Box Score NORTH ANDOVER, MA- The Saint Peter's women's basketball team was defeated by Merrimack with a final score of 64-49 on Thursday evening.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Fatmata Janneh got the Peacocks off to a strong start, stealing the ball from the Warriors and driving to the basket for a quick 2-0 lead. Louella Allana and Nikola Zdenkova followed up with back-to-back three-pointers, adding to the early momentum. Janneh closed out the first quarter with a layup, but the Warriors pushed back to take a narrow lead. At the end of the opening quarter, Merrimack held a 14-10 advantage.
Coming out of the first quarter break, Nikola Zdenkova struck again from beyond the arc, while De'Naya Rippey and Maria Andorinho added driving layups to keep Saint Peter's in the mix. However, Merrimack capitalized on key opportunities and steadily extended their lead. At halftime, the Warriors were up 34-22.
Saint Peter's came out firing in the third quarter, with Laila Grant sinking a three-pointer and Fatmata Janneh hitting a smooth jumper. Janneh's defensive effort shone as she intercepted a pass and turned it into a fast-break basket. The Peacocks locked down on defense, holding the Warriors scoreless for over three minutes. During that span, Janneh exploded for 11 points in just over four minutes, while Grant drained another three-pointer to end the quarter. The Peacocks trimmed the deficit to 47-39 heading into the final frame.
In the fourth quarter, Nikola Zdenkova knocked down a jumper, and Laila Grant followed with a layup to keep the Peacocks within striking distance. Janneh added another layup late in the game, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Warriors lead.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Fatmata Janneh delivered an impressive performance, showcasing her versatility on both ends of the court. In 29 minutes of play, she scored 17 points, shooting 8-for-20 from the field, including one three-pointer. Janneh was a force on the glass, pulling down a team-high 13 rebounds, with three on the offensive end and 10 on defense. She also contributed one assist, adding to her all-around impact.
Laila Grant made key contributions during her 33 minutes on the court, finishing with 8 points on efficient shooting. She went 3-for-7 from the field, including 2-for-5 from beyond the arc, shooting 42.9% overall and 40.0% from three-point range. Grant also grabbed three defensive rebounds, providing support on the boards.
Nikola Zdenkova put in 37 minutes of effort for the Peacocks, contributing eight points while playing a key role on both ends of the floor. She went 3-for-11 from the field. Zdenkova also grabbed three defensive rebounds, helping the team in critical moments on the glass.
De'Naya Rippey made her presence felt on the court with a gritty performance over 35 minutes of action. She scored seven points and grabbed down eight offensive rebounds and finished with 12 total boards, providing her team with critical second-chance opportunities. She also dished out two assists and added three steals, showcasing her defensive instincts.
UP NEXT
The Peacocks will return home to continue their MAAC campaign on Thursday, January 30th, as they face off New Jersey rival Rider. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m., and fans can catch all the action live on ESPN+.
