JERSEY CITY, NJ - Saint Peter's women's basketball earned a hard-fought victory over the Manhattan Jaspers in a conference match-up, defeating them 58-52 on Saturday afternoon.
The Peacocks had four lead scorers that came from double figures, freshman forward Linda Amaning tacked on 14 points, junior guard Louella Allana and redshirt sophomore Nikola Zdenkova contributed 12 points, and sophomore Fatmata Janneh posted 10 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Saint Peter's got on the board early with a strong drive to the basket from Linda Amaning, but Manhattan responded quickly, taking control of the first quarter. Redshirt sophomore Nikola Zdenkova knocked down a three-pointer, but the Peacocks struggled to close the gap as the Jaspers built an early advantage. At the end of the opening quarter, Manhattan led 17-5.
Sophomore Fatmata Janneh opened the second quarter with a strong drive to the basket, setting the tone for Saint Peter's offense. Junior Louella Allana sparked momentum, drilling back-to-back three-pointers as the Peacocks battled to close the gap. Amaning continued attacking the rim, while Allana remained hot from beyond the arc. Sophomore Emily O'Connell capped off the half with a clutch three-pointer, bringing Saint Peter's within striking distance. At halftime, Manhattan held a 31-25 lead.
Saint Peter's came out of the half with intensity, as Amaning powered through the defense for a pair of driving layups. Janneh added a smooth turnaround jumper, while Amaning continued her aggressive play at the rim. Zdenkova found her rhythm, banking in a shot, followed by a jumper from graduate guard Maya Hyacienth. Hyacienth then drilled a crucial three-pointer, giving the Peacocks their first lead of the game. Zdenkova closed out the third quarter with another triple, sending Saint Peter's into the final frame with a 44-39 advantage.
In the final quarter, Allana kept the momentum going, drilling a three-pointer to extend Saint Peter's lead.Manhattan chipped away at Saint Peter's lead, but Zdenkova responded with a clutch three-pointer, putting the Peacocks back in front. Janneh secured the Peacocks lead with a jumper.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Linda Amaning had an impactful performance for Saint Peter's, finishing with 14 points on an efficient five-of-eight shooting (62.5%). Amaning dominated the boards with seven rebounds, including six on the offensive glass, and contributed across the stat sheet with four assists, three blocks, and two steals.
Nikola Zdenkova played a crucial role for Saint Peter's, scoring 12 points in 35 minutes of action. She was a threat from beyond the arc, hitting 4-of-8 three-pointers at a 50% clip. Zdenkova also grabbed three rebounds, all on the defensive end, and added two assists.
Louella Allana put in a gritty 37-minute effort for Saint Peter's, finishing with 12 points. She was aggressive from beyond the arc, knocking down four three-pointers. Allana contributed in other areas, grabbing five rebounds—two on the offensive end—and dishing out three assists
Fatmata Janneh played 37 minutes, finishing with 10 points and a standout performance on the boards, grabbing 12 rebounds, including 10 defensive. Janneh also contributed four assists, three blocks, and a steal while committing five turnovers
UP NEXT
The Peacocks travel to Fairfield Thursday, February 13th, to continue their MAAC campaign. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m., and fans can catch all the action live on ESPN+.
--
For continuing coverage of Saint Peter's University Athletics, visit SaintPetersPeacocks.com and follow the Peacocks on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
