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Women's Basketball

Women’s Basketball Set for Season Opener Against NJIT Wednesday Night at NJCU

Peacocks prepare to host Highlanders in Game 1 of 2020-21

Game 1
Saint Peter's (0-0) vs. NJIT (0-0)
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 25
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: John J. Moore Fitness and Athletic Center, Jersey City, NJ
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Opening Word: 
  • The Saint Peter's University women's basketball team is set to host neighboring NJIT for the 2020-21 season opener Wednesday, Nov. 25 in a 7 p.m. tip-off.
  • The game will be played at the John J. Moore Fitness and Athletic Center on the campus of NJCU, as the Yanitelli Center is currently under renovation.
  • The contest is the only non-conference home game slated for 2020, with games against St. John's (Dec. 1) and Morgan State (Dec. 5) taking place on the road.
History with the Highlanders: 
  • The Peacocks and the Highlanders will meet on the hardwood for the eighth tilt of the series Wednesday night, with Saint Peter's holding a narrow 4-3 advantage all-time. 
  • The two sides last faced off at NJIT on December 4, 2019, when the Highlanders came away with a slim 76-73 victory following a hard-fought contest.
  • The returning senior tandem of Taiah Thornton and Kendrea Williams led the way for the Peacocks on that December evening, dropping 24 and 17, respectively.
  • The game marks the second time in three years that Saint Peter's will open its season against NJIT, as the Peacocks kicked off the 2018-19 season with a 70-57 win over the Highlanders on Nov. 6, 2018.
The 2019-20 Peacocks
  • Saint Peter's finished last season with nine overall wins and six in the league circuit to represent the team's best finish in nearly a decade.
  • Among the victories came marquee wins over some of the conference's top programs, including a 67-56 win against then-undefeated Rider on Feb. 6. 
  • Another signature win came less than two weeks later, when Saint Peter's split the season series with Fairfield in a 66-63 overtime victory on the back of a game-winning triple from Thornton.
  • The Peacocks will look to capitalize on their home-court advantage from last year, having finished the season nearly .500 (6-7) when playing in Jersey City.
Back for More
  • The Peacocks return four players from 2019-20, including redshirt seniors Thornton and Williams, along with juniors Cinnamon Dockery and Tyara McQueen.
  • Thornton makes her senior debut following an incredible showing all last season in which she led the team in scoring with 446 points (14.9 points per game) and steals (69). The Pennsauken native was also one of the most efficient shooters on the squad, finishing the season with a field goal percentage of 42 percent and a three-point percentage of 30.6 percent. Thornton's season culminated in a selection to the 2020 All-MAAC Third Team.
  • Joining her classmate to lead the pack, Williams returns as one of the team's elite offensive weapons after a standout campaign last year. Williams shot a team-high 45.6 percent from the floor last season, and was lethal from deep range, finishing out with a 41.3 percent three-point percentage. The marks were enough to rank third in the league in percentage, while tying for first in triples made with 76.
  • Dockery enters the season fresh for the first time since her freshman year, after a delayed start from last season due to injury. The junior was still able to work her way back into the lineup to appear in 20 contests last year, including one start against Iona on Jan. 20. A constant worker, Dockery will look to increase her production with a healthy start to the new schedule.
  • McQueen rounds out our returning veterans as another staple in the lineup from 2019-20. The Rahway native appeared in 29 games for the Peacocks last season, averaging just over 12 minutes per contest. McQueen was able to step up big for Saint Peter's when she needed to last season, including an 11-point outing on 80 percent shooting in the Peacocks' 86-68 win over Canisius on Jan. 25. 
Fresh Faces
  • One of the largest incoming groups in recent years, Saint Peter's welcomes 10 newcomers to the squad for the upcoming campaign, including six true-freshmen and four transfers. 
  • Of the rookie class, four hail from the northeast, including Taylor Abraham (Freeport, NY), Sky Castro (Queens, NY), Rachel Kuhl (Old Bridge, NJ), and Giah Moore (East Stroudsburg, PA). The two remaining freshmen include Ajia James (Stafford, VA) and international addition Victoria Ikenasio (Melbourne, Australia).
  • The four other additions to the team include graduate transfer Jenna Clark from FDU, senior Jessica Woods out of Sacred Heart, and juniors Nickelle O'Neil and Binta Salawu, who join the Peacocks following their respective careers at Niagara CCC and Miles CC.
Up Next:
  • The Peacocks enjoy a week of rest before traveling east across the Hudson to Queens for a battle with St. John's on Dec. 1. The start time is currently TBA.
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For continuing coverage of Saint Peter's University Athletics, visit SaintPetersPeacocks.com and follow the Peacocks onTwitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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Players Mentioned

Cinnamon Dockery

#13 Cinnamon Dockery

G/F
5' 9"
Junior
Tyara McQueen

#2 Tyara McQueen

PG
5' 3"
Junior
Taiah Thornton

#1 Taiah Thornton

G
5' 5"
Redshirt Senior
Kendrea Williams

#23 Kendrea Williams

G
5' 9"
Redshirt Senior
Binta Salawu

#0 Binta Salawu

G
5' 4"
Junior
Victoria Ikenasio

#20 Victoria Ikenasio

F
6' 1"
Freshman
Jenna Clark

#24 Jenna Clark

F
5' 11"
Graduate Student
Nickelle O

#3 Nickelle O'Neil

G
5' 5"
Junior
Rachel Kuhl

#11 Rachel Kuhl

G
5' 7"
Freshman
Ajia James

#12 Ajia James

G/F
6' 1"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Cinnamon Dockery

#13 Cinnamon Dockery

5' 9"
Junior
G/F
Tyara McQueen

#2 Tyara McQueen

5' 3"
Junior
PG
Taiah Thornton

#1 Taiah Thornton

5' 5"
Redshirt Senior
G
Kendrea Williams

#23 Kendrea Williams

5' 9"
Redshirt Senior
G
Binta Salawu

#0 Binta Salawu

5' 4"
Junior
G
Victoria Ikenasio

#20 Victoria Ikenasio

6' 1"
Freshman
F
Jenna Clark

#24 Jenna Clark

5' 11"
Graduate Student
F
Nickelle O

#3 Nickelle O'Neil

5' 5"
Junior
G
Rachel Kuhl

#11 Rachel Kuhl

5' 7"
Freshman
G
Ajia James

#12 Ajia James

6' 1"
Freshman
G/F

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