Published: November 19, 2006
QUEENS, N.Y.
The St. John's women's basketball team fell to Army, 57-45,
Sunday afternoon at Carnesecca Arena. Freshman point guard
Nikki Jo Rotolo was the Red Storm's leading scorer
with 11 points, while senior guard Kia Wright had
10 points and a team-high seven assists.
Army began the game on an 8-0 run and closed the first half with
a 12-0 run to take a 29-19 lead into the intermission. Rotolo and
Charisse Curtis each nailed two 3-pointers to help
close an early eight-point deficit, and the Red Storm went on top
for the first time, 17-15, at the 6:10 mark on a strong post move
and finish by Tiina Sten. Wright assisted on five
of the team's seven baskets and grabbed four rebounds over a 17-9
spurt that gave St. John's its first lead of the contest.
Rotolo and Curtis had team-highs with six points in the half,
and Wright, Sten and Joy McCorvey each pulled down
four rebounds. Army's starting five accounted for all of the Black
Knights' 29 points, and guard Cara Enright led the way with a
game-high eight points.
Already a threat from long distance, Rotolo began getting into
the paint and making plays early at the start of the second half.
The freshman scored five points over a 7-0 run to start the period
and help the Red Storm get within three points at 29-26. After a
Rotolo layup at the 16:33 mark, the Black Knights quickly upped
their lead to nine with 11:22 remaining and then into double
figures with 8:30 to go.
The lead remained in double digits over the final five minutes
of the contest, as Enright scored 10 of her 18 points in the second
half and Megan Evans finished an 11-point, 13-rebound double-double
effort.
Rotolo went 3-of-6 from long distance and scored a team-high 11
points, while Wright filled the stat sheet with 10 points (all in
the second half), seven assists and five rebounds in 30 minutes.
Forwards McCorvey and Angel Tate both finished
with eight rebounds, and the freshman McCorvey blocked three
shots.
St. John's next heads to the University of Maine Tournament next
weekend, taking on Clemson at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 24 and
either Brown or host Maine on Saturday, Nov. 25. The Red Storm
returns to Carnesecca Arena on Dec. 2 for a contest against
Monmouth and the start of a four-game home stand.