Memorable games – Part 2 – Peters’ steal and buzzer-beater earns 2014 NCAA victory for LIU Post
By Stephen Zerdelian
Part 2 of our Memorable Games Series highlights an almost-forgotten NCAA tourney gem
Alexis Peters’ steal and baseline floater at the buzzer capped off a thrilling 2014 NCAA tournament first round win for LIU Post over Assumption, 60-59, a game that stuck in the brain of anyone lucky enough to see it.
Last shot link – http://www.liupostpioneers.com/news/2014/3/14/WBB_0314145625.aspx?path=wbball
Peters enjoyed a great game for the Pioneers that day in Waltham (21 points, including her 1,000th career marker; 8 boards, 6 steals, 9-15 FG, 38 minutes) anyway but the final play cemented it as a regional touchstone. The result was harsh on a very good Assumption team (the #6 seed in that regional), which led by as many as 13 points with just under 13 minutes remaining in the contest.
Deirdre Moore, LIU Post’s head coach, knew something was different about the game from the start.
“It was a struggle for us to score, way below of scoring average from that season (75 ppg). Assumption defended our guards (Chelsea Williams, Peters and Kenyatta Sears) very well and, even though we rebounded better and turned them over more, we still could not shake them,” said Moore.
The Greyhounds (18-11) jumped to a fast 11-2 start and held the upper hand for much of the first half. LIU Post (24-7) drew within 29-27 at the break but AC grabbed control thanks to a 15-3 surge to snare a 49-36 lead with 12:58 to play.
AC’s balanced attack featured guards Shannon Ray, Tafanie Roye (11 points each) and Kelly Conley (9 points, 5 assists) while Jamie Insel (10 points, 10 boards) and Caitlin Ackerman (10 points) led the frontcourt troops, making the Greyhounds a tough team to defend.
Assumption’s head coach, Kerry Phayre, was pleased with her teams’ performance to that juncture, especially when she remembered the last time her team faced the Pioneers.
“We played LIU Post earlier in the year at their place in a non-conference game and we got beat up pretty good (86-64). So, I think our team was excited to get a chance to play them again. We came out and played a great game, really dominated at times but Post hung in there. We had our chances to put them away down the stretch but we weren’t able to,” lamented Phayre.
The Pioneers found their feet and rallied, scoring 20 of the next 26 points to surge ahead, 56-55, with 2:56 to go. Peters and Williams (23 points, 9 boards), who also scored her 1,000th point in the contest, led the way for LIU Post, accounting for almost three-quarters of their scoring. Ray made the next two baskets for Assumption (sandwiching a hoop from Williams) to put AC ahead, 59-58, with 1:17 to play. Both teams went cold after that, with Sears missing a trey with five seconds left on the clock. Peters gave a foul on the ensuing Greyhound inbound but LIU Post still wasn’t over the foul limit.
“I remember thinking, what are the chances at the end of the game that we would not be in the penalty,” said Moore. “If we were in the penalty then Assumption would have been shooting free throws instead of taking the ball out under our basket.”
“You could have that same situation in the game ten times and you would win nine out of ten but that night it was not meant to be. Not only did they have to steal the ball, and not only did they have to get a shot off in 1.1 seconds, the shot also had to go in. Unfortunately (for us) all three of those things happened,” recalls Phayre.
In another era, the strategy would have been different.
“I wish I had drawn up a better inbound play or been able to call timeout, or that it was 2020 and we could have advanced the ball,” opined the AC mentor.
Peters came up with the game-deciding steal and basket, turning at just the right time near the foul line to spy and snag the pass, took an instinctive dribble and went up with her shot. After it went in, the officiating crew took multiple looks at the courtside monitor to confirm the shot was good, which it was, and the game was finished.
“I remember the next day, in preparing for Adelphi, Alexis and all the team members took turns trying to duplicate Alexis’ shot from the night before. No one could make the shot, including Alexis!” recalls Moore.
Phayre has a philosophical take on the turn of events.
“As we always tell our players, a game never comes down to the last play, it’s a combination of forty minutes. But I truly have no regrets and neither should our players. They played their hearts out and I was devastated for them. We deserved to win that game and that is no disrespect to LIU Post or (coach Moore), I respect her team and her so much. Credit to them that they never gave up, but I am still proud today of how our team played,” said Phayre.
“I also remember the student-athletes being so nervous,” added Moore. “I think they put so much pressure on themselves that they were very tight during the game. The main thing I will also take away from the Assumption game is as long as there is time on the clock you have a chance to win. When you stick together and believe in each other than anything really is possible.”
LIU Post beat Adelphi in the next round, 85-83 (Sears had 28 points, Peters had 22 and Williams 21) to reach the regional final for the only time in their program’s history. That they lost to the unbeaten Bentley national title team once there does not diminish their path to the Sweet 16. The Pioneers played their last season as a separate entity in 2018-’19 before being absorbed into the LIU system yet those who witnessed this game, and Peters’ play, will never forget it.
“That team was honored in 2016. Everyone came back to campus at halftime of a football game and remembered that day and team. Great, great memories,” reflects Moore.