MAAC Basketball Championship Spotlights: Saint Peter's Peacocks
MAAC Sports
EDISON, N.J. – With the 2015 MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships quickly approaching, the league will begin to spotlight each of its 11 member institutions’ men’s and women’s programs leading up to championship week. Today’s school scheduled to be featured is Saint Peter’s University.
Saint Peter’ Men’s Basketball
Preseason Poll Pick vs. Current Standing (as of Feb. 26):
The Saint Peter’s Peacocks were picked to finish fourth in the preseason poll, and are currently tied for seventh in the standings with Siena at 7-11 in the league. Overall, the Peacocks post a 13-16 record through 29 games. Although tied with Siena, Saint Peter’s holds the tiebreaker over the Saints after sweeping the regular season series and also posting wins against Monmouth and Quinnipiac which are ranked ahead of the Peacocks.
Player to Watch: Marvin Dominique
A preseason All-MAAC First Team selection, senior Marvin Dominique leads the Peacocks in points with 14.2 per game, good for 10th in the MAAC, and rebounds grabbing 7.5 per game, fourth best in the league. The forward has led the Peacocks in scoring 15 times in the 2014-15 season. Dominique’s best performances came in back-to-back come from behind wins where he scored 26 points against Siena and a season-high 27 points at Niagara en route to being named MAAC Player of the Week.
Top Play of 2014-15 (as of Feb. 26): Watch Here
Breakthrough Performance(s) (as of Feb. 26):
Saint peter’s knocked off Rutgers, 68-50, on the road in the Barclays Classic on Nov. 25, behind Marvin Dominique’s 22 points. The Peacocks went on a 19-3 run in the first half to grab a 29-13 advantage with 2:29 remaining and never surrendered the lead. In the second half, the Scarlet Knights were able to trim the margin to 10 points a couple times, but the Peacocks had an answer each time and Rutgers could not get the margin to single digits. The win marked three-straight seasons in which the Peacocks have defeated a big name program.
Saint Peter’s Women’s Basketball
Preseason Poll Pick vs. Current Standing (as of Feb. 26):
Saint Peter’s was picked to finish 11th in the preseason coaches’ poll and are currently 10th in the standings with a 3-15 league mark, while posting a 3-24 overall record. The Peacocks have notched wins over, hOURglass rival Rider on Jan. 2, Niagara on Jan. 29, and Manhattan on Feb. 7. With the three league wins this season, Saint Peter’s have surpassed its league win total of two from the 2013-14 season.
Player to Watch: Sajanna Bethea
Freshman Sajanna Bethea leads the Peacocks in scoring during her rookie season, averaging 9.8 points per game, while also posting a team-best 6.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals. Bethea has posted 14 double-figure scoring efforts and four double-doubles. In the Peacock’s 65-58 win over Niagara, the forward scored a career-high 20 points, while grabbing nine rebounds and making two assists.
Top Play of 2014-15 (as of Feb. 26): Watch Here
Breakthrough Performance(s) (as of Feb. 26):
The Peacocks posted their second league win of the season and snapped a seven game skid, with a, 65-58 victory over Niagara. Sajanna Bethea scored a career-high 20 points, while teammates Alyssa Velles tallied 15 points and Antonia Smith posted 12 points in the win which was broadcasted on ESPN3. Saint Peter's scored a season-high 48 points in the second half to earn the victory and split the season-series against Niagara.
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The final spotlight, set to be released on Friday, Feb. 27, will feature the Siena Saints men’s and women’s programs.
The 2015 season culminates at the 2015 MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships at the Times Union Center in Albany, New York, March 5-9. Tickets for the championships are available online at ticketmaster.com.
For the full men’s basketball schedule, visits maacsports.com and remember to follow the conversation on twitter using #MAACHoops and #MAACHoops15.