JERSEY CITY, N.J. - The Saint Peter's women's basketball team was defeated in an incredibly hard fought battle against the Fairfield Stags 62-84 on Thursday, Jan. 8 at Run Baby Run Arena.
Although in defeat, the Peacocks showed up and showed out against the defending MAAC Champions, with an incredible day shooting the ball, going 51.1 percent from the field and winning the rebounding battle of 28 boards compared to the Stags 26.
Nikola Zdenkova had her best game of the season so far, scoring a season high 15 points, and leading the team with two steals and minutes playing 37 in the game.
De'Naya Rippey again with a stellar performance as another double double gets added to her total with 14 points and a team high 10 rebounds, including going a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
Carys Roy also had an impressive day off the bench, scoring 14 points, and having a solid day shooting, making six shots on just eight attempts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER: Zdenkova began the game red hot for the Peacocks, knocking down a pair of 3-pointers to open the contest. Rippey added to the total with a basket inside before Zdenkova added another triple to her total. Heading into the media timeout, the Peacocks entered with a ton of momentum and energy as the score sat at 10-8 in favor of the Stags. Coming out of the timeout, Fairfield cashed in on a triple from the outside before immediately being answered by Zdenkova. Roy added a pair of layups inside to end the first quarter with a score of 15-19.
SECOND QUARTER: Just like the first, the tandem of Rippey and Zdenkova began the second quarter with the first baskets, a layup inside from Rippey, and then a triple from Zdenkova. J
ayshlynn Vega and Roy continued the Peacock scoring with a pair of baskets in the paint. A score of 23-28 entering the media timeout was immediately answered by a pair of free throws from
Louella Allana and then added on by a basket from Rippey. Following an
Eszter Turi basket inside, Rippey then scored the next four points for the Peacocks and made a huge defensive stop at the end of first half to put a 33-36 score at the half.
THIRD QUARTER: The Peacocks started the second half slow, but found life with a triple for Zdenkova and a layup inside for Vega. However, the tide would quickly change as the Stags ripped off a 14 point run through the media timeout to shift the score to 38-58. The Peacocks found life though to end the third thanks to a six point run themselves by free throws from Rippey and Roy capped off by a basket inside from Roy. After a triple from deep 3-point range by the Stags, the score entering the fourth was a Stags lead of 61-44.
FOURTH QUARTER: Vega began the fourth quarter attacking inside and laying up a clean bucket. Turi also added a basket inside to her total before a huge triple from the corner by Allana.
Layla Laws also with a crucial score inside, however due to the stellar marksmanship by the Stags, the Peacocks sat at a 53-74 deficit entering the media timeout. Vega immediately came out of the timeout swinging with a hard drive to the basket, drawing a foul and cashing in once at the line. Roy again continued to be a force in the paint with another basket inside. After a basket and a free throw from the Stags, the Peacocks scored six straight points all inside the paint from Rippey, Roy, and Turi. The Stags scored the final five points on a triple and mid range jumper, with the total at the final buzzer a 62-84 victory for Fairfield.
UP NEXT: The Peacocks will stay home for a weekend battle against Mount St. Mary's as part of a celebration for First Responders weekend.
