Despite holding a lead for the majority of regulation, the Peahen's basketball team fell to the NJIT Highlanders 66-59 in overtime. Jynae Judson (25 points, 15 rebounds) and Quiana Porter (20 points, 10 rebounds) both recorded double-doubles in the loss, while NJIT's Ravyen Johnson had a team-high 15 points to lead the Highlanders. The Peahens fall to 0-9 on the season while NJIT improves to 5-5.
Senior center Quiana Porter got off a torrid start in the first half, accounting for 10 of the Peahens first 12 points. Porter began the scoring immediately following the tip, giving Saint Peter's and early 4-0 advantage. The Highlanders responded with five unanswered points to take a 5-4 lead at 18:06. Both teams would proceed to exchange leads, until Saint Peter's mounted a 6-0 run to go ahead 14-8 in the 12th minute, behind Aziza May's lay up.
A six-point Peahen lead proved to be insufficient, as NJIT found themselves in front 20-16 with 5:42 remaining in the first half, by way of an 11-0 run. During the stretch, the Peahens committed 4 turnovers and attempted just three field goals, all of which they missed.
Aziza May ended the five-minute scoring drought with a jumper in the paint, which also sparked an 8-0 Peahen run. Jynae Judson led the movement with 6 points, and continued to score four more in the final minutes to close out the half.
With 3:55 left in the frame, Judson gave SPC back the lead by way of a 15 foot jump-shot, after sinking two free throws. Judson added a buzzer-beating basket to secure a seven-point lead heading into the half-time break ahead 30-23.
Judson's heroics continued into the second half, draining a three to give Saint Peter's their largest lead of the game at 35-25, just over a minute into the stanza. The Peahens maintained the cushion until the Highlanders threatened in the 12th minute, getting within 1 point at 38-37 following Uju Nwankwo's two made foul shots.
The game continued to be one of runs, with SPC scoring six unanswered points (Judson-4, Porter-2) to go ahead 44-37 with 9:54 to go. Again the Peahen lead was short-lived, with NJIT's Denisa Domiterova draining a long distance three to bring the Highlanders within 3 at 49-46. The home team continued to chip away, as Domiterova's trey began a 10-0 run and gave NJIT their first lead at 53-49 (3:53) since the first half.
The combination of Judson and Porter immediately responded for the Peahens, teaming up for seven points in the next two minutes to reestablish a Saint Peter's advantage at 56-55 (2:20).
Either team failed to score over the next two minutes, going a combined 0-6 from the floor (NJIT, 0-2 from the line).
With 23 seconds remaining, Porter came up with a huge offensive rebound to regain possession following Jynae Judson's missed jump shot. The Highlanders were forced to foul, and put sophomore guard Khadijah Young on the line, who made one of two free throws to put Saint Peter's ahead 57-55.
Following a 30 second SPC timeout, NJIT's Rayven Johnson connected on a layup 6.2 seconds left to tie the game at 57-57. Peahen Aminah Davis had one final opportunity to win the game for Saint Peter's, but just missed a jumper at the buzzer.
NJIT started the scoring in overtime, with Kimberly Dweck knocking down a jump shot less than thirty seconds in. Judson tied the game back up at 59-59 just five seconds later as she went 2-2 from the charity stripe. Those would be the only markers for the Peahens in the extra time, as Saint Peter's failed to connect on a field goal, and went 0-11 from the floor.
Jynae Judson led all scorers for the second consecutive game with 25 points, going 8-20 from the field and an exceptional 8-9 from the line. Quiana Porter's 20 points were a career-high for the senior. Aside from Judson and Porter, just four other Peahens scored in the game, Adenike Oyesile (2 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks), Aziza May (6 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals), Aminah Davis (3 points) and Khadijah Young (3 points, 2 steals).
NJIT's stat sheet featured all but one player with at least 3 points. Rayven Johnson finished with a team-high 15 points in the contest. Sarah Olson and Melanie Griffin also finished in double-figures for the Highlanders, adding 13 and 10 points respectively.
The Peahens shot 29.6% from the field and just 8.3% from three-point range. They did however go a season-high 72.% from the line. NJIT shot 34.4% and 50.% from beyond the arc. Saint Peter's committed 20 turnovers and forced 16.
Following an eight-day holiday break, the Peahens will return to action as they host the annual Holiday Classic in the Yanitelli Center on December 29th and 30th. This year's tournament will feature the University of Dayton Flyers, the Binghamton University Bearcats and the University of South Florida Bulls. The first game of the tournament will be USF vs. Dayton, and will tipoff at 5pm. The Peahens will take the court immediately after for a 7:30pm tip against Binghamton.
