EASTON, Pa. (Interstat) — The Lafayette Leopards secured their first victory of the young season Thursday night, using a dominant second quarter to pull away from the winless Saint Peter’s Peacocks for a 76-58 women’s basketball victory at Kirby Sports Center.

In a game defined by offensive efficiency, or a lack thereof, Lafayette found its rhythm while Saint Peter’s struggled to convert its opportunities. The Leopards improved to 1-3, while the Peacocks fell to 0-3.

A tightly contested first quarter saw Saint Peter’s hold a narrow 18-17 lead, but the game turned decisively in the second period. The Leopards’ offense erupted for 23 points while their defense clamped down, holding the Peacocks to just 11. A key sequence saw Lafayette’s Haylie Adamski and Haley Poser connect on three-pointers, and a late layup from Rosie Scognamiglio, assisted by Talia Zurinskas, capped the quarter and sent the Leopards into halftime with a 40-29 advantage.

The Peacocks, led by a game-high 23 points from De’Naya Rippey, attempted to claw back in the third quarter, outscoring Lafayette 15-13 to trim the deficit to nine points. A three-pointer from Louella Allana and a driving layup from Rippey kept Saint Peter’s within striking distance.

Any hope of a comeback was extinguished in the final frame as the Leopards’ offense once again found its mark, matching their second-quarter output with another 23-point period. Lafayette consistently answered every Saint Peter’s basket, shooting a blistering 11 for 28 from beyond the arc for the game. A three-pointer from Adamski with just over a minute remaining put an exclamation point on the victory, giving the Leopards their largest lead of the night.

The statistical story was one of stark contrasts. Despite having two more possessions, Saint Peter’s managed only 58 points, shooting 33.3 percent from the floor and a frigid 25 percent from three-point range. The Peacocks also left points at the free-throw line, converting just 4 of 10 attempts. Their saving grace was a relentless effort on the offensive glass, where they hauled in 19 rebounds to create extra chances, but they were unable to capitalize consistently.

Lafayette, conversely, was efficient and effective. The Leopards shot 46.3 percent from the field and an impressive 39.3 percent from deep. They were also clinical from the charity stripe, making 15 of 18 free throws. While they were out-assisted by Saint Peter’s 8-4, their ball security was solid, committing 12 turnovers while forcing an equal number from the Peacocks.

Rippey, a 5-foot-10 guard from Brooklyn, N.Y., was the standout for Saint Peter’s, logging 34 minutes and scoring 23 points to go with two assists. Layla Laws added 10 points for the Peacocks, and Allana dished out a team-high five assists.

The Leopards’ attack was more balanced. Adamski, a 6-foot forward from Media, Pa., led the way with 17 points, while Tasha Chudy contributed 14 and Poser added 16. Zurinskas facilitated the offense effectively, tallying nine points and five assists. Scognamiglio also chipped in seven points and four assists.

The announced attendance at the Kirby Sports Center was 247.

Saint Peter’s will look for its first win on the road against NJIT on Nov. 19. Lafayette returns to action on Nov. 16, traveling to face Saint Francis (PA).