St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
4-0
UNC-Wilmington (Championship Game)
2-2
St. John's Women Win Wilmington Hilton Riverside Classic
11/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 27, 2004
Wilmington, NC - (November 27, 2004) - The St. John's University women's basketball team beat UNC Wilmington 71-62 in the championship game of the 2004 Wilmington Hilton Riverside Classic. The win not only gives the Red Storm's their second straight tournament title this season but is also the first time St. John's has ever won two tournaments in one year.
The Red Storm improve to 4-0 on the year, marking their best start to a season since they won their first four games in the 1982-83 season.
Junior Tara Walker (Jersey City, NJ) was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after leading St. John's with 29 points in the two games, with 13 crucial points in the second half of the championship game. sophomore Angela Clark (Copiague, NY) was named to the All-Tournament Team, finishing with 30 points and 20 rebounds for the tournament.
sophomore Kia Wright made the first two points of the game hitting two foul shots at 19:08. UNC-Wilmington answered back with a 7-0 run capped off by a three-pointer by Michaela Vezenkova to give them an early 7-2 lead. St. John's made their first field of the game at 14:27 as Andrea Peterson knocked down a three-pointer. Good defense by the Red Storm led to an easy lay in by Walker at 12:22 to tie the game at seven. UNC-Wilmington took back the lead with a ten foot jumper by Meagan Samis to make the score 9-7. St. John's would then regain the lead at 9:45 with a steal by Greeba Barlow and fast-break lay in by Kati Kurtosi.
St. John's and UNC-Wilmington would then trade baskets, until Samis scored four straight points to give UNC-Wilmington a 24-21 lead with 4:15 left in the half. The Red Storm would answer with five straight points of their own to take a 26-24 lead on Clarks lay in with 1:47 in half. Tanika Harrison hit two foul shots with 48 seconds left to give UNC-Wilmington a 29-27 lead.
The Red Storm would be led in the second half by Tara Walker who hit a three-pointer at 18:43 to tie the game at 33, she would finish the game with 14 points and 5 rebounds. Sophomore Kia Wright hit her second field of the game at 15:26 to give St. John's a 35-34 lead, in which they would never give up as they took control of the game. Freshman Andrea Peterson would hit seven of eight free-throws down the stretch to lock up the championship for the Red Storm. Peterson finished the tournament with 29 points.
UNC-Wilmington was lead by Meagan Samis, who finished with 19 points and seven rebounds.
The Red Storm will return to action on Wednesday, December 1 when they host Hofstra University at Carnesecca Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 pm.
For the most up-to-date on all St. John's University athletics, please visit our website at www.redstormsport.com or call our hotline at 1-888-GO STORM
