FAIRFIELD, CT - The Saint Peter's University women's basketball team fought hard for all 40 minutes Monday night, but ultimately fell to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) leader Fairfield by a score of 67-61. The Peacocks led early in the affair, gaining a 15-11 advantage midway through the first quarter, but constant pressure from the Stags offense saw the hosts walk away with the win.
For the second straight game, redshirt-senior
Kendrea Williams posted 20 points to lead the Peacocks in scoring while matching MAAC Preseason Player of the Year and Fairfield forward Lou Lopez-Senechal to lead all players from the field. Williams's classmate
Taiah Thornton recorded 15 points on the night while freshman
Sky Castro had a strong outing, finishing with a new career-high of 12 points and leading Saint Peter's with eight rebounds.
How It Happened:
- After the Stags failed to convert on a conventional three-point play to start the game, Williams knocked down an opening triple off the dish from freshman Victoria Ikenasio to give the Peacocks a 3-2 lead.
- After an answering three-pointer from freshman Ajia James, the score was tied at 5-5 before Fairfield hit two unanswered shots to gain a 9-5 advantage. A pair of free throws from Thornton and another triple from Williams then cut the Stags' lead to 11-10.
- Less than a minute later, a backdoor pass from Thornton found freshman Taylor Abraham inside for an easy lay-up, giving the Peacocks a 12-11 advantage. After going scoreless for the last four minutes in the first period, the Peacocks entered the second quarter trailing 19-15.
- Saint Peter's opened the second stanza with a 6-2 run, culminating in a quick inbound play from Thornton to Williams, leveling the score at 21-21. Following a pull-up jumper from junior Binta Salawu four possessions later, the Peacocks pulled back to within a single point, trailing 24-23.
- The Stags retaliated with a 6-0 run until Thornton finished a drive with her trademark tear-drop floater to narrow the Fairfield advantage to 30-25.
- Salawu struck first for the Peacocks in the second half, knocking down a deep three-point shot to bring the score to 30-28. Following two buckets from Fairfield, Williams would hit her fourth triple of the night, cutting the opponents' advantage to 34-33.
- The Peacocks were able to stay within four points of their hosts over the next six minutes, with Castro chalking up eight points during the span while Williams connected on her fifth triple.
- Neither side found success through the first minute and a half of the final period, until Fairfield hit a deep ball of their own. Saint Peter's responded though, with a free throw from Castro and a clutch three-pointer from junior Tyara McQueen, as the Peacocks drew within two points (53-51) of the Stags.
- After falling behind by five, Thornton hit her first triple of the night, bringing the score to 57-55 with the advantage going to Fairfield. Following a key rebound from McQueen, Thornton regained possession and finished a floater in the paint, evening the score at 57-57.
- Despite trailing by only two points with less than a minute left to play, Saint Peter's conceded two quick buckets from Fairfield put the Stags on top, leading to the 67-61 victory.
Inside The Numbers:
- Williams started the game a perfect 3-for-3 from deep and would finish the night 5-for-9 from downtown.
- All of Castro's points came in the second half against the Stags. Additionally, the freshman shot a perfect 4-of-4 from the floor in the exchange while converting on four out of six free throw attempts.
- Of Castro's eight rebounds, five came on the offensive glass.
- Thornton's seven assists match her season-high, having reached the mark twice on the year, against both Iona (Dec. 12) and Quinnipiac (Jan. 9).
- The Peacocks finished Monday's game with 20 second-chance points while the Stags were only able to score five points off second efforts throughout the contest.
- Saint Peter's was able to narrowly out-rebound Fairfield in the contest, pulling down 41 boards compared to 38 from the hosts.
Up Next:
- The Peacocks return to Jersey City this weekend for a series against hOURglass rival Monmouth from Feb. 13-14.
