JERSEY CITY, NJ - The Saint Peter's University women's basketball team finished out the series sweep over Siena on Saturday afternoon, winning the rematch against the Saints 62-54. Despite trailing 14-4 in the first quarter, the Peacocks persevered and walked away with the win on Senior Day, finishing 2020-21 with a 6-3 home record. The wins marks the Peacocks' tenth of the year, the most by the program since its 10-18 finish in 2009-10.
Freshman
Ajia James and redshirt-senior
Taiah Thornton had impressive performances in the series rematch on Saturday, as each player finished with a double-double on the day. James continued her hot streak, finishing with her fourth consecutive double-double with a team-leading 17 points and 13 rebounds. Thornton showed up big in her last game in Jersey City, scoring 14 points while dishing out a game-high 10 assists.
How It Happened:
- The score opened with an even 4-4 split following baskets from Thornton and freshman Sky Castro. The Saints then took a 9-4 lead following a 5-0 run which started off with a conventional three-point play.
- Siena maintained the five-point lead through the midway point of the first quarter as the score read 14-9 with four minutes left to go. A 6-0 run from Saint Peter's to close out the quarter would cut the Siena lead to three as the Peacocks trailed 18-15 after 10 minutes.
- The second stanza started with back-to-back baskets from, giving the Peacocks their first lead of the day at 19-18. Two pairs of made free throws from redshirt-senior Kendrea Williams and junior Tyara McQueen would then increase the Peacocks' lead to 23-18 less than two minutes later.
- The Saint reclaimed a 24-23 lead at the 3:52 mark in the second quarter after a 7-0 run, culminating in two successful free throws. Saint Peter's would ultimately close out the half trailing 30-28 after a key triple from James with three second left in the half.
- The Peacocks quickly took a 31-30 lead to start the second half following a conventional three-point play from Thornton. This would start a 7-0 run for the blue and white as they secured a 35-30 lead three and a half minutes into the third period.
- Three straight scores from Thornton and Williams moments later increased the Saint Peter's advantage to 41-32.
- Two consecutive jumpers from McQueen late in the third quarter gave the Peacocks their first double-digit edge of the day, putting the team up 45-35 over the visitors.
- The first baskets of the fourth quarter came from the charity stripe as Thornton knocked down a pair of free throws to put Saint Peter's ahead 51-37.
- The Peacocks maintained their advantage through the four-minute mark as McQueen knocked down another mid-range jumper off the assist from Thornton, bringing the score to 59-44.
- Five quick points for the Saints quickly trimmed the Peacocks' lead back down to 10 as they drew the score to 59-49. A pivotal jumper from James with two minutes left in the game then gave Saint Peter's a 12-point cushion.
- A late push by the Saints proved too little, too late as the Peacocks held on for the 62-54 win.
Inside The Numbers:
- The Peacocks have now won three contests in a row and improve to 9-8 in conference play.
- Thornton's 10 helpers mark the Pennsauken native's second game of the year with 10+ assists.
- James leads all freshmen in the MAAC and ranks second among all players in the league in total rebounding with 190 boards on the year.
- McQueen set a new season-high in scoring on Saturday, and her 10-point outing marks the Rahway native's fifth double-digit performance of her career.
- Saint Peter's finished the rematch shooting 41 percent as a team, holding Siena to 34 percent on the day.
- The Peacocks had the slight edge on the glass in game two, recording 39 rebounds compared to 34 from the Saints.
- The fastbreak helped Saint Peter's once again as the Peacocks finished with 11 points off the break while the Saints recorded just four points on fastbreaks.
Up Next:
- The Peacocks will remain at home for a rematch against the Saints on Sunday, Feb. 27 at 4 p.m.
