St. John's University Athletics
SETON HALL ESCAPES WITH 59-54 WIN OVER SJU
2/3/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Red Storm (6-14, 2-8) played arguably its best conference game of the season against the Pirates (15-6, 8-2), who came into the game ranked third in the league with a 7-2 record in BIG EAST play.
The first half featured six ties and eight lead changes as the teams both got off to a strong start offensively. The Red Storm made 13-of-29 (44.8) from the floor while the Pirates connected on 13-of-23 (56.5) and went into the lockerroom tied at 32-32. Senior Arminda Moreno had the hot hand for the Pirates with 17 points, while Brown led the Red Storm charge with 10.
In the second half the Red Storm scored the first five points of the half on a jumper by senior Katrina Johns (Baltimore, Md.) and a three-pointer by Brown to assume a 37-32 lead. SJU would maintain that lead until the 12:07 mark when Starr Fuller and Moreno combined for six straight points for Seton Hall to tie the game at 48-48. Charlene Thomas then gave the Pirates, who had trailed by as many as seven in the half, their first lead of the half when she completed a three-point play, which capped a 9-0 run by Seton Hall.
The Pirates would extend that lead to six (55-49) before the Red Storm rallied. Junior Rasheedah Brown (Newark. N.J.) hit a three-pointer from the top of the key to pull St. Johns to within three. But Moreno answered on the other end, getting an off-balance layup to go, pushing the lead back to 57-52. Thomas then fouled R. Brown who went to the line for two shots. She made them both and St. Johns immediately called timeout with one minute left in the game.
After the timeout and up three (57-54), Seton Hall put the ball in the hands of Moreno, who walked the ball up the court, and let the clock wind down. With 10 seconds left on the shot clock, Moreno looked to pass but Thompson tied the ball up, forcing a jumpball situation. The alternating possession allowed Seton Hall to keep the ball, with 16.1 seconds on the game clock and 5.0 on the shot clock. Cecelia Lindqvist tried to inbound the ball but it was knocked away, burning just .4 seconds off the clock.
On the second inbound attempt, Moreno got the ball and put up a shot that was off the mark, but was rebounded by teammate Leslie Ardon, who also went up for a shot and was fouled by S. Brown. Ardon converted both free throws to seal the victory. A desperation three-pointer by S. Brown in the final seconds rimmed out as time expired on the Red Storm.
Moreno finished with a career-high 25 points to lead all scores. R. Brown tallied 16 in the losing effort, marking the 20th consecutive game in which she has scored in double figures. Senior Latasha Thompson (Newark, N.J.) chipped in 12 points and three assists.
The Red Strom will be back in action on Wednesday, February 7 when they travel to Providence, R.I. for a BIG EAST matchup with the Friars. Game time is set for 7:00.
