JERSEY CITY, N.J. (Interstat) — Lydia Melashenko scored 28 points and Oralye Kiefer anchored a formidable defensive effort with five blocks as Merrimack held off a persistent Saint Peter’s squad for a 66-59 victory in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at Yanitelli Center.

The Warriors, who led wire-to-wire, improved to 9-9 overall and evened their conference record. The Peacocks fell to 4-15.

Melashenko, a 5-foot-7 guard from Ottawa, Canada, was the offensive catalyst, playing 40 minutes and connecting on six 3-pointers. Her backcourt partner, Paloma Garcia of Corozal, Puerto Rico, distributed seven assists. Kiefer, a 6-foot-3 center from Wayland, Massachusetts, added 10 points and dominated the paint defensively while grabbing 11 rebounds.

Saint Peter’s was powered by a game-high 25 points from De’Naya Rippey, a sophomore from Brooklyn, New York. Louella Allana of Laval, Canada, facilitated the offense with seven assists, and Reilly Sunday contributed 11 points.

The most critical phase of the game came in the final minutes as Saint Peter’s mounted a fierce comeback attempt. After trailing by as many as 13 points in the second half, the Peacocks chipped away, closing to within 58-55 on a driving layup by Allana with just over a minute remaining.

Merrimack, which had seen its offensive rhythm stutter in the fourth quarter, responded under pressure. Following an offensive rebound, Madison Roman was fouled and made one of two free throws to push the lead to four with 1:25 left. After a defensive stop, the Warriors worked the clock before Garcia was fouled with 39 seconds remaining. The point guard calmly sank both free throws, extending the advantage to 61-55.

Saint Peter’s had a chance to answer, but Kiefer swatted away a jump shot by Allana, her fifth block of the night, with 13 seconds left. The Warriors then sealed the game at the foul line, with Kiefer making two free throws and Garcia adding another in the closing seconds to secure the seven-point win.

The game began with Merrimack establishing early control. Kiefer won the opening tip and scored on the game’s first possession, setting a tone of interior dominance. Melashenko caught fire from deep, hitting three first-quarter 3-pointers as the Warriors built an 18-13 lead after one period.

Saint Peter’s found its footing in the second quarter behind Rippey, who scored 11 points in the frame. The Peacocks used a 9-2 run to tie the game at 24-24 and later took their only brief moment of momentum when a Rippey steal and layup gave them a 27-26 edge. Merrimack closed the half strong, however, with a 3-pointer from Joi Williams and a late free throw to take a 30-27 lead into halftime.

The Warriors opened the second half with renewed defensive intensity, holding Saint Peter’s to just two field goals over the first six minutes of the third quarter. A 10-2 Merrimack run, capped by another Melashenko 3-pointer, pushed the lead back to double digits at 42-32. The Warriors maintained that cushion for most of the period, taking a 48-41 lead into the final quarter before withstanding the Peacocks’ last push.

Madison Roman provided crucial support for Merrimack with 12 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Williams added five points off the bench.

For Saint Peter’s, Nikola Zdenkova of Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, scored six points.

The announced attendance was 267.

Merrimack next travels to face Mount Saint Mary’s on Saturday. Saint Peter’s will host Rider on Saturday.