St. John's University Athletics
No. 22 Rutgers Shuts Down St. John's, 69-38
2/19/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
After trading baskets to start the game, St. Johns took its first lead (9-6) at 14:08 on a three by junior Reka Szavuly (Miskolc, Hungary). Rutgers Cappie Pondexter responded with five straight points for the 11-9 advantage. Then with the game tied at 13-all, the Scarlet Knights went on a 9-0 run, which included back-to-back threes by Pondexter. Szavuly snapped the Red Storms five minute scoring slump with a drive in the lane at 4:17, cutting the RU lead to seven. A fastbreak layup with 13 seconds remaining put the Scarlet Knights up by ten to close the half (29-19).
A Szavuly three followed by a three-point play by senior Creasie Fowler (Milwaukee, Wis.) pulled the Red Storm to within six (31-25). Rutgers built its 10-point lead back, but SJU chipped away at it, trailing by six with 13:37 to play. The Scarlet Knight defense buckled down and the Red Storm were held to just two field goals the rest of the way. Over the final 13 minutes of action, Rutgers outscored St. Johns 33-8 to take the game, 69-38.
Szavuly led the Red Storm with a career-high 18 points, knocking down four-of-eight from behind the arc. She had four of SJUs five second half field goals and finished the night shooting 6-of-10 from the field. Junior Shemika Stevens (New York, N.Y.) notched 11 points on 5-of-8 from the line.
Pondexter finished with 21 points, nine boards and seven assists. Chelsea Newtown had 14 and five assists, while Courtney Locke chipped in 10.
Rutgers outrebounded St. Johns, 36-18. The Scarlet Knights posted a 55.3 shooting percentage (26-47) to the Red Storms 28.3 (13-46).
The Red Storm return to action on Saturday, February 22 when they travel to Morgantown, W.Va. to take on the Mountaineers. Tipoff is slated for 4:00 pm.
