ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. – Looking to end the Molloy University Tip-Off Challenge on a high note, the Queens College women's basketball team were led by the duo of freshman
Cecilia Lapertosa (Whitesboro, N.Y.) and sophomore
Tayanee Peay (Amityville, N.Y.) as the Knights defeated the Warriors of Alliance University.
Lapertosa tallied her second double-double of the week with 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead the offense, while Peay notched a season-high 17 points and junior
Khadija Demry (Brooklyn, N.Y.) recorded 15 points. On the defensive end, the Knight put on a block party with season-high eight blocks and totaled 16 steals to defeat the Warriors 68-54 Sunday afternoon inside Quealy Gymnasium.
Game Recap
The Knights started the game strong as the duo of freshman
Brianna Davis (Bronx, N.Y.) and Demry combined for eight points to take an 11-1 lead with 4:28 left in the first quarter.
The Warriors would start to cut into the Knights' advantage but the rookie duo of Lapertosa and Davis would combine for five rebounds and five steals to keep the Alliance offense at bay.
Despite the Knights being held scoreless for the final four minutes of the first quarter, Queens would take a slim lead of 11-10 heading into the second quarter.
Leading by one, Peay opened the second quarter with back-to-back jumpers before Demry put the Knights up by seven, 17-10 with 8:35 left until halftime.
Lapertosa would notch back-to-back buckets as Queens continued their 10-2 run to take a nine-point edge, 21-12 by the 6:21 mark.
The Warriors would slowly start to cut into Queens' lead as a nine-point edge was brought down to three, 24-21 with 2:23 left until halftime.
But Queens would hold the Warriors scoreless for the final 1:42 of the second quarter as they took a 27-21 lead into halftime.
It would be a slow start to the third quarter as both sides were unable to find their shot, but free throw shooting for Alliance would see them opening the scoring as they cut the score down to 27-24 at the 8:30 mark.
Demry would notch back-to-back jumpers to open Queens scoring as the Brooklyn native extended the lead back to seven, 31-24 in 30 seconds.
After the Warriors cut the score down to 31-28, Queens would start a 12-5 run from the 5:33 mark to the 1:30 mark as Peay and junior
Kendra McPeek (Binghamton, N.Y.) gave the Knights a 10-point edge of 43-33.
A layup by the Warriors would see them cut the deficit down to eight, 43-35 at the 1:10 mark before both sides went scoreless to end the third quarter.
Alliance opened the scoring to begin the final 10 minutes of play as they brought the score down to 43-37 with 9:39 left in the game.
Queens would put the game away with a 12-3 run spanning from the 9:06 mark to the 5:29 mark as they took a 15-point lead of 55-40 going 5-5 from the field. The Knight defense would force the Warriors to go 0-6 from the field with two blocks and two turnovers in their run to emerge victorious with a 68-54 victory.
With the win, the Knights earn their second win of the season.
Game Highlights
- Lapertosa tallied her second double-double of the season with 17 points (7-14 FG) with 10 rebounds, one block, and a career-high five steals.
- Peay recorded a season-best of 17 points (5-12 FG) to go along with five assists and four steals.
- Demry notched a season-best 15 points (6-13 FG) and tied a season-high five assists on the afternoon.
- It was a career day for Davis who recorded seven points (3-11 FG) to go with 10 rebounds, three blocks, and three steals.
- Off the bench, McPeek stuffed the stats sheet with six points (3-4 FG) with five rebounds, two blocks, and three steals.
- Queens won the rebounds battle with a 43-39 edge.
- On the defensive end, Queens tallied a season-high 16 steals and eight blocks and held a 28-16 advantage on points off turnovers.
- The Knights shot 41.0% from the field with a 25-61 shooting performance including a fourth-quarter performance of 63.64% going 7-11 from the field. While the Knights' defense held the Warriors to a 29.6% performance of 16-54 from the field.
NEXT TIP-OFF: Head coach
Bet Naumovski and the Knights will use the week to prepare for their East Coast Conference opener on Friday (Dec. 2) evening as they travel to Buffalo, N.Y. beginning with a matchup against the Saints of D'Youville University. Tip-Off set for 6:00 P.M.
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