JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The Saint Peter's women's basketball team took down Canisius 61-55 at Run Baby Run Arena on Saturday evening to close out the weekend with a clean sweep at home.
"They came in ultra-focused yesterday, they were really locked in at shootaround and they handled their business at home," head coach
Jennifer Leedham said after the game. "You want to be a playoff contender, win your home games and steal games on the road so we're just taking it one day at a time, one game at a time, and it's great to come out 2-0 this week for sure."
The Peacocks (5-9, 3-2 MAAC) found themselves in a tight contest with the Golden Griffins (2-13, 1-4 MAAC) at halftime when it was 19-19, but Saint Peter's started the third quarter on a 10-0 scoring run to help swing the momentum in their favor.
The Saint Peter's offense was led by
Fatmata Janneh, Nikola Zdenkova and
Laila Grant. Despite fouling out with 4:23 left in the game, Janneh recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 23 points and 10 boards. It was her second straight game with a double-double and the eighth time she's scored 20 or more points this season.
Zdenkova and Grant were forces to be reckoned with from long range. Zdenkova cashed four triples while shooting 50.0 percent (4-for-8) from 3-point range while Grant added three 3-pointers of her own. The two guards combined for 25 points.
Saint Peter's was outrebounded by the Griffs, however the Peacocks shared the ball much more effectively, dishing out 17 assists compared to Canisius' eight. With the victory over Niagara on Thursday, Saint Peter's finished the weekend with two solid conference wins.
The Peacocks hit the road next week to play Marist at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 16.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Peacocks took an early 8-4 lead as Janneh scored all of Saint Peter's points behind two 3-pointers. SPU's defense held the Griffs to just 25.0 percent (2-for-8) shooting from the field at the first media timeout, but out of the break Canisius knocked down a triple to make it a one-point game. Janneh added to Saint Peter's total with an elbow jumper as the Peacocks held a 10-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.
To start the second, Canisius made a 3-pointer to take its first lead of the game, 11-10. The Peacocks wasted no time retaking the lead, scoring on their next two possessions. Grant extended the SPU lead to four at 18-14 with a downtown 3 with just under five minutes remaining in the first half.
The Griffs scored five unanswered points to take the lead right back, but a free throw from
Maria Andorinho tied the game at 19-19 heading into halftime.
The Peacocks came out firing in the second half, going on a 7-0 run behind Zdenkova's two 3-pointers to force a Canisius timeout. After the timeout, Janneh knocked down a triple as well to put Saint Peter's up 29-19.
As the third quarter progressed, the Peacocks held onto their 10-point advantage before a 3-pointer from Grant gave Saint Peter's its largest lead of the game at 41-28. Janneh extended that margin to 15 with another elbow jumper, bringing her scoring total to 20.
Saint Peter's held a 46-31 entering the fourth, but the Griffs quickly cut their deficit down to 10 with two free throws followed by an AND-1. The Peacocks responded well as Zdenkova hit a 3-pointer with under eight minutes to go in regulation.
A few minutes later, Canisius came within eight but Saint Peter's ability to hit the 3 kept the Peacocks in charge. SPU lost their leading scorer, Janneh, after fouling out with 4:23 remaining.
The Grifs wouldn't go away in the closing minutes, but the Peacocks powered through and pulled out the six-point win.
KEY MOMENT
Saint Peter's opened the third quarter with a 10-0 scoring run made up of two 3-pointers from Zdenkova and a 3 from Janneh. The quick run gave the Peacocks the momentum and eventually led to a lead that the Griffs were unable to come back from.
UP NEXT
The Peacocks will split their games on the road and at home next week, playing at Marist on Thursday, Jan. 16 and hosting Sacred Heart on Saturday, Jan. 18. Both games will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
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