St. John's University Athletics
Red Storm Close Out 2002-03 Season
3/4/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Virginia Tech got off to a fast start, opening a 9-2 lead at the 16:07 mark. A three by junior Shemika Stevens (New York, N.Y.) sparked the Red Storm offense and 11-4 run. Making her second consecutive start, junior Angie Leung (Richmond Hill, N.Y.) knocked down one from long range to pull SJU within one. Two made free throws by Kerri Gardin put the Hokies back up by three. Junior Crystal Andrews (West Bloomfield, Mich.) responded with a basket downlow to cut the Hokie lead back down to one. A steal and fastbreak layup by junior Reka Szavuly (Miskolc, Hungary) gave the Red Storm their first advantage of the game (14-13). Szavuly and sophomore Patrycja Gulak (Olsztyn, Poland) each hit jumpers for the three-point SJU lead (18-15). A three-pointer by Virginia Techs Carrie Mason tied the game at 22-22 with 3:56 remaining in the half. A putback by junior Kati Kurtosi (Miskolc, Hungary) gave the Red Storm the 26-24 lead, but Starlings basket tied the game just before the buzzer for the break.
Coming out of the break Virginia Tech outscored the Red Storm, eight to two to take a 34-28 lead. Szavuly and Gulak hit back-to-back baskets to get back in the game (34-32). The Hokies went on a 12-0 run over the next 3:36 to open a 46-34 advantage. Junior Nora Gyuris (Pecs, Hungary) short jumper stopped the Hokie run at 8:56 (48-36). Stevens followed with a three, cutting the lead to under 10. A layup by Ieva Kublina at 4:32 gave Virginia Tech its largest lead at 15 (58-43). Stevens hit two free throws and added a layup shrinking the Hokie lead to 11 with 4:07 to play. The Red Storm would never pull closer as Virginia Tech took the game, 69-53.
Stevens recorded her 22nd game with double-figures, finishing with a team-high 14 tonight. She knocked down two threes, grabbed three boards and dished out two assists.
Gulak posted 10 points on 5-of-11 shooting, while also recording three assists and four steals. Szavuly finished with eight points, while Kurtosi added six.
Senior Creasie Fowler (Milwaukee, Wis.), playing in her final game in a Red Storm uniform, posted six boards, four points and two blocks. Andrews also grabbed six boards, while chipping in four points.
Starling led three Hokies in double-figures with 20 points on 10-of-18 shooting. Mason had 16, while Kublina finished with 14.
First year head coach Kim Barnes Arico and the Red Storm finish their 2002-03 season with an 8-19 overall record and 2-14 in the BIG EAST.
