Fast start too much for Bears St. John’s hands Maine its seventh straight loss

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JAMAICA, N.Y. – St. John’s University scored the game’s first 15 points, seven by guard Sky Lindsay, and cruised to an 80-50 women’s basketball victory over the University of Maine Black Bears Friday night at Carnesecca Arena.

St. John’s improved to 7-2 while sending Maine to its eighth loss in nine games and seventh in a row.

After jumping out to the 15-0 lead, the Red Storm maintained at least a 12-point lead the rest of the way.

“You’ve got to be ready to go from the get-go. It’s so important, especially on the road, because you don’t have energy to pull from the crowd. You need to bring it yourself. You certainly can’t start a game 15 points down on the road,” first-year Maine coach Cindy Blodgett said.

The Red Storm took full advantage of the Black Bears’ 22.2 percent shooting and 16 turnovers to build a 34-19 halftime lead.

The Bears connected on just two of their first 20 field-goal attempts.

Maine also turned the ball over 16 times in the first 20 minutes and the Red Storm transformed those turnovers into 17 points.

St. John’s expanded its lead to as much as 33 points in the second half.

“We don’t have a go-to player, which is OK if all five players are showing up every night,” Blodgett said. “But, right now, we’re sporadic. A couple of players may show up one night and, the next night, they won’t. I know some of it is youth and inexperience.”

“It’s so tough to watch. Our team is better than that,” she added.

Monique McLean led the way for St. John’s with 16 points and seven rebounds, and Recee Mitchell had 12 points and eight rebounds. Joy McCorvey and Lindsay had nine points each.

McCorvey grabbed seven rebounds and had three steals and Kia Wright dished out a game-high five assists to go with her six points and three steals.

Brittany Boser had 15 points and 10 rebounds for Maine, with Tanna Ross and Christina Mosher contributing 10 points each. Mosher’s 10 points are a career-high. Mosher also grabbed seven rebounds.

“Christina did a nice job,” said Blodgett. “I liked her rebounding. And at the very end of the game, she ran out and blocked a three-point shot attempt. She played [hard] right to the very end.

“Brittany has been consistent every night. You certainly can’t question her effort. You know she’s always going to give her best effort every night,” said Blodgett.

Maine visits St. Francis (N.Y.) on Sunday at 2 p.m.

RED STORM 80, BLACK BEARS 50

Maine (1-8) St. John’s (7-2)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Boser 7 8 1 1 15 Sten 4 6 8

Kilmurray 1 7 0 1 2 McCorvey 4 9

Younan 0 1 4 6 4 Lindsay 3 12 9

Rousseau 1 4 0 0 2 Wright 3 8 6

Tewksbury 1 6 0 0 2 McLean 6 11 16

Baker 1 4 0 0 2 Moore 3 3 6

Ross 3 13 1 2 10 McMnmon 3 11 0 6

Johnson 1 1 1 3 3 Curtis 0 0 0

Bowen 0 1 0 2 0 Hart 1 3 3

Mosher 4 8 2 2 10 Rotolo 0 3 0

Bratishko 0 4 0 0 0 Ledbetter 1 5

Mitchell 5 8 12

Totals 19 57 9 17 50 33 73 12 20 80

Maine 19 50

St. John’s 34 80

3-pt. goals – Maine (3-13): Ross 3-9, Baker 0-2, Kilmurray 0-1, Rousseau 0-1; St. John’s (2-17): McLean 1-4, Lindsay 1-4, Rotolo 0-2, Wright 0-2, McManmon 0-5

Attendance: 362