JERSEY CITY, NJ - The Saint Peter's University women's basketball team came away with a win Wednesday night following its season-opener against NJIT. After an early lead, followed by a slew of lead changes and extra minutes, the Peacocks were able to come away from the exchange on top via a 69-64 margin.
The Peacocks were all over the floor against the Highlanders, with redshirt-senior
Taiah Thornton leading the way by registering a triple-double in dramatic fashion, finishing the night with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 steals. Freshman
Ajia James also showed up big for the Peacocks, recording a double-double of her own with 13 points and 10 rebounds, respectively. Thornton's classmate,
Kendrea Williams, and junior
Binta Salawu also scored more than 10 points Wednesday, finishing with 13 and 14, respectively.
How It Happened
- The Peacocks opened the game with an impressive first four minutes of play, going up 9-0 on the visitors in the opening frame. Heading into the first media timeout of the night, Saint Peter's maintained a 14-6 lead on the backs of James, Thornton, and Williams.
- The Peacocks finished the first quarter leading 20-13 off 11 first-quarter points from Williams, but the Highlanders were able to cut that lead to two in the opening minutes of the second frame, bringing the score to 20-18.
- NJIT evened the score with just under six minutes left to play in the opening half, as the scoreboard read 24-24. The first lead change came shortly thereafter as the visitors secured a 27-25 advantage. The Peacocks would ultimately go into the locker room at the half trailing 32-36.
- An 8-2 run from the Peacocks at the start of the third period, including a crucial three-point play from Thornton, brought the Peacocks back to within three points, with NJIT maintaining a narrow 43-40 margin.
- The Peacocks tied the game up once more just a few minutes later on a made free-throw from Thornton, bringing the score to 45-45.
- The fourth quarter was scoreless for both sides until freshman James hit a baseline jumper to give the Peacocks a 49-47 edge with just over six minutes left in regulation.
- A clutch 5-0 run late in the fourth quarter from the combined efforts of James, Williams, and Sky Castro lifted the Peacocks to a 56-53 lead with one minute remaining.
- The Peacocks entered the waning moments of Wednesday's game leading by three, but an NJIT triple with 17 seconds left in regulation would send the game into extra minutes with the score tied 56-56.
- The Peacocks were able to pull it together in overtime, out-scoring the Highlanders through the five minutes of play by a 13-8 margin to take the 69-64 win.
Inside The Numbers:
- Thornton's triple-double is her first as a Peacock, and her 11 steals were just two short of the program record, set by Carolyn Gadsden vs. Dartmouth on Jan. 21, 1984.
- The Peacocks had five different scorers in the first quarter of play, including James, Giah Moore, Nickelle O'Neil, Thornton, and Williams.
- The win marks the third year in a row that the Peacocks have come away from their season-opener victorious, making head coach Marc Mitchell perfect in his season debuts at Saint Peter's.
- Saint Peter's was dominant on the offensive glass Wednesday night, hauling in 35 offensive boards to just 14 from the opposition.
- In the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, the Peacocks had out-rebounded the Highlanders 14-8.
- Saint Peter's trailed by as much as nine during the third frame on Wednesday night when the team found itself down 41-32.
Coach's Quotes - Marc Mitchell:
- "Love the way we fought throughout the entire game."
- "I knew it wasn't going to be pretty. I'm so happy for Taiah getting a triple double. Having Multiple players to score in double figures is a testament to playing team ball."
