JERSEY CITY, NJ- Saint Peter's University women's basketball Fatmata Janneh, Nikola Zdenkova, De'Naya Rippey and Linda Amaning scored in double-figures, as the Peacocks dominated Niagara 80-50 in their conference match-up.
WHAT HAPPENED
Sophomore Fatmata Janneh set the tone early with a strong drive to the basket. Freshman forward De'Naya Rippey followed up with a smooth layup, while fellow freshman forward Linda Amaning added another impressive drive to the rim. Redshirt sophomore Nikola Zdenkova nailed a three-pointer, and graduate guard Laila Grant sank a shot from beyond the arc. Graduate guard Maya Hyacienth also connected from downtown, while Janneh showcased her finesse with a floating jump shot. Amaning powered through for another drive to the basket, and Janneh capped it off with a strong finish in the paint. At the end of the first the score was 21-11 Saint Peter's.
Fatmata Janneh ignited the Peacocks momentum in the second half with a clutch three-pointer. Nikola Zdenkova added a smooth pull-up jumper, while Linda Amaning contributed back-to-back jump shots. Laila Grant showcased her skills with a hook shot, and De'Naya Rippey followed up with a layup. Janneh capped off the surge with a strong drive to the basket, sending the Peacocks into halftime with a 38-17 lead.
De'Naya Rippey opened the third quarter with a smooth layup, setting the tone early. Nikola Zdenkova and Fatmata Janneh each added jumpers to extend the momentum. Junior Louella Allana came up big with a steal, leading to another Rippey drive to the basket. Janneh dominated with back-to-back layups and capped it off with a three-pointer. Zdenkova joined the action from downtown, while Rippey delivered another drive to the hoop, pushing the Peacocks to a commanding 59-37 lead at the end of the third quarter.
In the Peacocks' final stretch, Fatmata Janneh came up with a crucial steal, setting up Nikola Zdenkova for a shot from beyond the arc. Maya Hyacienth followed with a three-pointer, and Janneh added a strong drive to the basket. Linda Amaning powered through for another basket, while Laila Grant knocked down a three-pointer to keep the momentum alive. Freshman forward Maria Andorihno added a layup, and freshman guard Iyanna Cotten capped off the game with back-to-back layups, marking a standout moment in her collegiate career. The Peacocks sealed the game with a commanding 80-50 victory over their opponents.
STATISTICS
Nikola Zdenkova delivered a solid performance for Saint Peter's, playing 30 minutes and scoring 13 points on an efficient 5-for-9 shooting from the field, including an impressive 50.0% from beyond the arc (3-for-6). Zdenkova added three rebounds (1 offensive, 2 defensive) and one assist while limiting her fouls to just one.
De'Naya Rippey made a strong impact for Saint Peter's in just 19 minutes of play, scoring 12 points on an efficient 5-for-9 shooting (55.6%). Rippey was a dominant presence on the boards, grabbing seven rebounds (two offensive and five defensive), while also chipping in one assist and avoiding personal fouls.
Fatmata Janneh delivered a dominant performance for Saint Peter's, playing 35 minutes and leading the team with 22 points on an efficient 10-for-17 shooting (58.8%), including 50.0% from three-point range (2-for-4). Janneh was a force on the boards, securing an impressive 16 rebounds (6 offensive and 10 defensive), showcasing her ability to control the paint. She added two assists, two blocks, and three steals, contributing across all areas of the game.
Linda Amaning played 21 minutes for Saint Peter's, contributing 11 points on 5-for-10 shooting (50.0%) from the field. She was perfect from the free-throw line, going 1-for-1, and added six rebounds (four offensive, two defensive) to her stat line. Amaning also registered two assists and one turnover, displaying solid play-making and decision-making.
Louella Allana played 35 minutes for Saint Peter's, recording 1 rebound, 10 assists, and 5 steals.
UP NEXT
The Peacocks continue their conference play against Canisius. The match-up between the Golden Griffins and Peacocks will be Saturday Jan. 11th. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m., and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
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