Saint Peter's Downs Rider in First Round of MAAC Championships
MAAC Sports
ALBANY, N.Y. – Saint Peter’s Antonia Smith led the Peacocks with 18 points, four assists and four rebounds in the first round matchup. The No. 10 Peacocks held off the No. 7 Broncs 62-54 on Thursday afternoon in the first round of the 2015 MAAC Women's Basketball Championship.
Sajanna Bathea contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double, while Alyssa Velles added 11 points going three for four from beyond the arc in the Saint Peter’s win.
Saint Peter’s got out to an early lead in the contest taking an 11-3 lead just under six minutes into the game. Saint Peter’s biggest lead came at the 10:22 mark, when Rebecca Sparks’ jumper put the Peacocks up by nine. Rider trailed the entire first half, but brought the game to within one point heading into halftime with a layup from Julia Duggan to bring the score to 24-23 peacock advantage. Rider came back in the second half to take their first lead of the contest just 33 seconds into the half on a layup by Robin Perkins to bring the game to 26-25. Saint Peter’s would take a six point lead at the 13:34 on a Velles three point shot to bring the score to 39-33. The Peacocks would take a larger lead creating a double digit difference, 49-38 at the 7:12 mark on a Bethea layup. With just over two minutes left in the game, Emily Fazzini’s shot from beyond the arc brought the Broncs to within four points., 53-49. Smith would get fouled at take free throws at the 10 second mark to seal the game for the Peacocks.
Duggan scored a team high 15 points and added 16 rebounds for the double-double, while Fazzini contributed 15 points and 2 assists.
Saint Peter’s will face two seeded Marist College in the quarterfinals on Friday at 7:00 p.m.
The 2015 MAAC Basketball Championships continue at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. March 5-9. Tickets can be purchased here.
The MAAC will host the NCAA Women's Basketball Sweet Sixteen Albany Regional at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. Tickets can be purchased here.
For the full women’s basketball schedule, visits maacsports.com and remember to follow the conversation on twitter using #MAACHoops and #MAACHoops15.