Saint Peter’s Women’s Basketball Bring First Home Win over Lafayette

The Saint Peter’s Peacocks women’s basketball claimed a thrilling 64-61 home opener win over the Lafayette Leopards on Sunday, Nov. 12.

Sophomore Zoe Pero led the team with a team-high of 14 points with nine rebounds. Freshman D’Aviyon Magazine debuted in her first home game with 12 points. Pero and Magazine were followed be seniors Talah Hughes and Sajanna Bethea added their share of 10 points while Alyssa Velles knocked down three three-pointers for a total of nine points.

The Peacocks got into their rhythms early on in the game thanks to a putback layup from Bethea, a jumper by Hughes and a shot from behind the arc by Velles for the 7-4 lead. Bethea dished out to Pero for a jump shot after sinking in one of her own to extend the Peacocks’ lead to 11-9. The Leopards gained the lead for the first time with a 12-11 but Magazine fought back by making a free throw to tie up the contest 12-12 in the first quarter.

Bethea, Hughes and Pero continued holding Lafayette back with mid-rangers to carry Saint Peter’s back to an 18-14 advantage. Sophmore Sammy Lochner and freshman starter Dajiah Martin combined for six points that put the Peacocks in a double-digit lead, 24-14. Not only was their offensive game in full effect, but their defensive game too–they held the Leopards to just four points, securing their 33-20 lead into half-time.

SPU didn’t back down in the fourth quarter; Magazine added another three-pointer for the team to continue the momentum and extend the 49-36 lead. Lafayette eventually cut the 13-point deficit to one point, but Saint Peter’s kept their heads on a swivel as they drew fouls shooting 5-for-6 from the line from Bethea and Hughes.

The Leopards got their own share of free throws to come back 57-57 with just less than four minutes on the clock. The Peacocks continued to explode with another three-pointer, adding up for the 60-57 advantage, but the Leopards continued to pounce and trailed just one point, 60-59, with just 51 seconds left. Bethea and Magazine secured the first home victory of the season with a pair of two points for the 64-61 win.

Saint Peter’s will continue their conquest on Tuesday, Nov. 14 where they face LIU Brooklyn in New York at 7 p.m. in the Steinberg Wellness Center.