Saint Peter’s Sajanna Bethea Records 20 Points in MAAC Opener at Manhattan

Saint Peter’s women’s basketball team was led by forward Sajanna Bethea who dropped 20 points in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener against Manhattan College on Thursday night in Riverdale, New York. Despite Bethea’s team-high, the Peacocks fell short 76-64, going 3-9 overall and 0-1 in the conference.

Guard Alyssa Velles chipped in with 14 points while forwards Talah Hughes added 11 points and Zoe Pero tallied eight points with a team-high six rebounds.

Bethea scored the first four points for the Peacocks as Hughes knocked down a three-pointer, but they still trailed 10-7. SPU posted another four points to the board thanks to two made free throws from Bethea and a shot in the paint from Hughes. The Jaspers maintained the lead at the end of the first quarter after extending their lead to 16-11.

Manhattan lead Saint Peter’s 30-17 during the second quarter, outscoring the Peacocks 8-3. SPU answered back with a 10-2 run from back-to-back threes from Velles and mid-rangers by Bethea and Sam Meier, cutting the deficit to 32-27. The Jaspers added four more points to their side, leading the Peacocks 36-27 into the half.

Saint Peter’s managed to trail just three points, 44-41, in the third thanks to a pair of threes from Bethea and Velles, a two-pointer from Hughes and made free throw by Sammy Lochner. Manhattan posted a 10-point advantage over SPU by the end of the third quarter.

The Jaspers extended their 10-point lead to a 12-point lead at 69-57 in the fourth quarter. Velles knocked down a shot from behind the arc to cut the double-digit advantage to single digits, 71-62, but Manhattan outscored Saint Peter’s 5-2 to secure the win at 76-64.

The Saint Peter’s women’s basketball team will host hOURglass Rival, Rider University, on January 2 for 7 pm game.