Published: December 04, 2006
QUEENS, N.Y.
Sophomore Monique McLean posted her first
career double-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds and four assists
as the Red Storm fell to visiting Hartford, 58-46, Monday night at
Carnesecca Arena.
With the win, Hartford improved to 6-3, while the Red Storm fell
to 2-5. St. John’s again started two freshman, two sophomores and a
junior, and played without senior guard Kia
Wright, who is recovering from a re-aggravated muscle
strain.
For McLean, it was her fifth-straight double-digit scoring game
and she established a new career-high 10 rebounds.
Tiina Sten added 10 points and four rebounds for
St. John’s, while Joy McCorvey netted nine
points.
Hartford held a slim four-point lead at the intermission, led by
Danielle Hood with eight points. The Hawks shot 59 percent from the
field in the first half, compared to the Red Storm’s 40
percent.
At the start of the second half, Hartford extended its lead to
11 points at the 14:30 mark after a jumper by Ikea Witt. Witt
finished with a game-high 22 points. St. John’s got back-to-back
baskets from McLean and Sten to cut the lead to six less than a
minute later, but Hartford stayed in control down the stretch and
eventually won by 12 points.
Freshman point guard Nikki Jo Rotolo scored
seven points in the defeat, but St. John’s committed 20 costly
turnovers compared to the Hawks’ 14.
St. John’s is back in action Thursday night when it hosts
Syracuse in its BIG EAST opener. Tipoff from Carnesecca Arena is 7
p.m.