JERSEY CITY, N.J. - The Saint Peter's women's basketball team earns their first victory of the 2025-26 with a dominant performance over Lehman on Tuesday, Nov 25. 83-31 at Run Baby Run Arena in Jersey City, N.J.
The Peacocks came to play for their home opener, shooting 42.9 percent from the field. The 52 point victory is now the largest margin of victory under Coach
Jennifer Leedham since her debut in 2022. The standout performances came from
Nikola Zdenkova who was lights out from the floor, scoring 14 points and shooting four-for-seven from 3-point range.
Eszter Turi came off the bench and provided the ultimate spark, leading the Peacocks in scoring with 15 points, and filling up the stat sheet with seven boards including both a steal and a block. In fact, the strength of the Peacocks was their scoring off the bench, with a total of 47 points being scored from subs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER: Zdenkova opened up the scoring for the Peacocks with a shot from downtown. After a few minutes, Roy cashed in from the line before Grant added to the total with an and-1.
Carys Roy continued off an excellent pick and roll execution with the assist coming from
De'Naya Rippey.
Jineen Ayyash knocked down a 3-pointer to take the contest into the media timeout with a healthy Peacocks lead 12-2. Coming out of the timeout, it was Ayyash who answered the call with another triple.
Jayshlynn Vega provided a scoring spark off the bench, working in a one-on-one and driving inside and scoring on a tough layup. The end of the first quarter saw the Peacocks holding firm to a double digit lead of 19-7.
SECOND QUARTER: Just like the first, Zdenkova earned the first points of the quarter with a triple from the corner. After a second consecutive 3-pointer from Zdenkova, the Peacocks entered the media timeout with the lead growing 27-13 following a basket inside from Turi. Turi continued to provide a strong presence off the bench, scoring on an excellent basket in the post and grabbing tough boards. The Peacock's slick passing and tough defense continued to reign supreme. Giving Saint Peters a 34-14 lead with two minutes left in the quarter. After a triple from
Jada Mills and a couple of strong baskets inside by Rippey, the Peacocks entered the halftime period with a big lead by a score of 39-16.
THIRD QUARTER: Zdenkova again started the quarter hot with another triple. Rippey also continued to be a monster in the paint, scoring again inside and continuing to punish the lightning with drawn fouls and free throws. Halfway through the quarter, the Peacocks led the Lightning 47-16. Coming out of a media timeout, Zdenkova just kept on scoring, this time with a mid-range jumper. Mills also added to the score column, this time on a pair of free throws.
Louella Allana joined the 3-point party with a triple of her own to increase the Peacock lead to 54-25. With the quarter coming to a close, Roy added to the Peacocks total with the score ending the third 56-25.
FOURTH QUARTER:
Layla Laws began the fourth quarter on a fantastic drop step basket inside and Turi added to her scoring by drawing a foul and converting on a pair of free throws. Turi continued to score for the Peacocks, this time on a second chance putback layup before once again scoring inside thanks to a picture perfect pass from Vega. With about five minutes left in the fourth, the Peacocks held on to a massive 65-27 point lead. Saint Peter's continued an onslaught of offensive scoring with baskets from Laws that came thanks to assists from Mills and
Sierra Patricio. After the media timeout, it was the freshman for the Peacocks who got the scoring started, with a triple from Patricio and an and-1 from Vega. With the Lightning taking a timeout with around two minutes left, Mills came out of the timeout swinging with a corner three. After a pair of tough baskets inside from Turi and Ayyash, the Peacocks grew their lead to an incredible 52 points heading to the final score of the contest 83-31.
UP NEXT: The Peacocks will head back out onto the road on Sunday, Nov. 30 at Rutgers in the Jersey Mike's Arena at 3:00 pm ET.
