WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.- Despite heading into halftime back four points, Monmouth University's women's basketball team eventually fell 71-48 to St. John's Wednesday night in Boylan Gym.
St. John's built on its four point halftime lead to 11, outscoring the Hawks 7-0 in the first two minutes of the second frame. The Red Storm continued to pour it on while MU struggled offensively. Jen Bender (Staten Island, N.Y./Staten Island Tech) got Monmouth's first points of the second putting back her own miss, but the damage was done as St. John's still held a 43-29 lead with just four minutes expired in the half.
Veronica Randolph (Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach) scored the Hawks second bucket of the half as MU managed just four points through seven and a half minutes in the second stanza. Randolph then scored five straight putting the Hawks back 17 with 10:18 to play. Monmouth could not get it closer, eventually losing by a 71-48 margin.
Monmouth jumped out to an early 4-2 lead but three straight buckets by the Red Storm, including two from guard Tina Sten gave St. John's a 8-4 lead with 14:00 minutes to play. McElroy stopped the eight point run, putting back her own missed shot to get the Hawks within four. The Blue & White's defense was solid over the next few minutes allowing no points but MU struggled on the offensive end, missing free throws and squandering opportunities. Freshman Elizabeth Kudirka (Plainview, N.Y./Plainview) closed the gap to a pair after hitting spinning left handed layup for her first collegiate points. Lindsay nailed the games' first three pointer with 9:55 to go regaining the Red Storm lead to four points.
St. John's opened up a 24-14 lead over the next three minutes before Marisa Jimenez (Carteret, N.J./Carteret), in her first game back from an injury, hit a three ball to cut the lead to seven. Monmouth closed to within six on a Randolph long range jumper, then to within three two trips later when Jimenez hit a left handed off balance layup with under two minutes to play. St. John's was able to earn a four-point halftime lead.
MU is now 6-35 all-time against members hailing from the BIG EAST conference.
Randolph finished with 10 points, while guard Marbely Montas (Cranford, N.J./Elizabeth) chipped in seven. Ferdinand had eight rebounds and five points on the night. Monique McLean had 16 points for St. Johns, while Sten finished with 15 and Lindsay Sky had 13.
Monmouth held a 47-32 advantage on the glass but committed a season high 34 turnovers on the night.
Next up for the 1-5 Hawks will be American University on Sunday, Dec. 3 in Washington D.C.
