NIAGARA, N.Y. - The Saint Peter's women's basketball team with an impressive road victory 81-72 over Niagara in the Gallagher Center on the campus of Niagara University. The impressive victory was largely contributed by shooting 50 percent from the floor, along with knocking down 19 free throws.
De'Naya Rippey had a career day, posting a new high of 24 points, and a career high of 12 free throws made. In fact, three other players scored over 10 points for the Peacocks.
Reilly Sunday and
Eszter Turi both with 13 points and
Nikola Zdenkova scored 12 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER: Zdenkova started the game off with a long mid range jumper before Rippey added a basket inside for the first four points of the game. Sunday and
Layla Laws added to the Peacocks total with a pair of shots from downtown. After the first three minutes, the Peacocks jumped out to a 10-6 lead over the Purple Eagles. Coming out of the media timeout, the Peacocks began to find the bottom of the net with baskets inside from
Carys Roy and a pair from Turi. After multiple trips to the line for Zdenkova and Rippey, the Peacocks ended the first quarter on a high with a score of 22-18
SECOND QUARTER: Just like the first, Zdenkova started the second with the first basket, this time a long 3-point jumper. Rippey contributed to the total, converting on a free throw, and dishing an assist to Sunday on a corner 3-pointer. Halfway through the quarter, the Peacocks still held onto the lead with a score of 29-25. Thanks to consistent shooting from outside, the Purple Eagles managed to shorten the gap from the Peacocks. However, the baskets from the Peacocks just kept coming, Turi and
Jayshlynn Vega ripped off the next 11 points for the Peacocks and both Roy and Rippey added points at the line for good measure. With the marksmanship from the Purple Eagles in the second, the lead shortened to a 43-40 score entering the half.
THIRD QUARTER:
Louella Allana began the third quarter scoring the first basket with a layup inside. Rippey also continued her steady scoring night, this time on a mid-range jumper. Sunday also with another basket on drive inside and an amazing layup to give the Peacocks a 49-42 lead entering the media timeout. The first basket after timeout came from a monster triple by Zdenkova. Both Rippey and Sunday began to go to work for the Peacocks, scoring the next five points of the game with Turi adding to the total with a layup inside, ending the quarter as the Peacocks led 59-50.
FOURTH QUARTER: Rippey was on fire to start the fourth quarter, scoring the first eight points for the Peacocks, but thanks to steady shooting from the Purple Eagles, the Peacocks held onto only a 67-61 lead halfway through the fourth. Coming out of a media timeout, Allana scored the first basket inside and Rippey added to her total with a free throw. After a pair of buckets inside from both Rippey and Roy, the Peacocks held onto a 74-64 lead. With the final two minutes remaining, the Peacocks grew the lead largely with the help of solid shooting from the free throw line by Turi, Rippey, and Allana. That steady shooting propelled the Peacocks to a final score of 81-72, moving Saint Peter's to 2-0 to begin MAAC Conference play.
UP NEXT: The Peacocks will enjoy the holiday break and return to the court on Monday, Dec. 29 against Quinnipiac at Run Baby Run Arena.
