EDISON, NJ - After a memorable 2019-20 campaign that featured marquee wins over some of the league's top schools, the Saint Peter's University women's basketball team saw those efforts recognized both as a team and at the individual level during Thursday night's MAAC Preseason Awards Show on ESPN3. Redshirt senior
Taiah Thornton was named to the Preseason All-MAAC Second Team to highlight the night.
Thornton was named to the league's preseason all-conference second team following a stellar debut campaign with the Peacocks last winter, one that culminated with her being named to the All-MAAC Third Team. The Pennsauken native led the Peacocks in a number of categories last season, most notably scoring (14.9), steals (69), and games started (30). A dominant force on the floor throughout the entire year, Thornton led the Peacocks in scoring in 12 of their 30 contests last year, while leading the team in steals in 17 games. Thornton's stats also placed her among the league's elite company, with her scoring average slotted sixth in the MAAC while her 69 total steals tied for second most in the conference.
Saint Peter's, which was voted ninth in this year's preseason poll, experienced promising growth as a team last season, finishing with nine overall wins and six in the league circuit to represent the team's best finish in nearly a decade. Along the way, the Peacocks showed that they belonged on the floor against anyone, and that fact was on display in February after posting a pair of season-defining victories.
Highlighting that stretch was a stunning 67-56 win over then-undefeated Rider, one that snapped the Broncs' 10-game conference win streak. The Peacocks also toppled Fairfield at home later that month, stunning the Stags in overtime on the back of a game-winning triple from Thornton as the buzzer sounded. Saint Peter's ended the regular season on a high note, completing a remarkable 15-point fourth-quarter comeback against Iona on Senior Day (March 7).
Saint Peter's prepares to enter this year with high hopes for the upcoming season, and with the addition of 10 new faces, which consist of six freshmen and four transfers, the Peacocks will have plenty of room to work with to improve on their advances from last year and finish even stronger in 2021.
2020 MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll
(#) - First Place Votes |
| 1 |
Manhattan (5) |
| T2 |
Fairfield (4) |
| T2 |
Quinnipiac (2) |
| 4 |
Marist |
| 5 |
Iona |
| 6 |
Siena |
| 7 |
Rider |
| 8 |
Monmouth |
| 9 |
Saint Peter's |
| 10 |
Niagara |
| 11 |
Canisius |
