St. John’s Dominates Delaware State, 82-44, in Home Opener

Thursday, November 29

Queens, N.Y. (Carnesecca Arena)

7:00 p.m.

St. John's University

5-1

Delaware State

1-4

Delaware State

St. John's

St. John’s Dominates Delaware State, 82-44, in Home Opener

11/29/2018 10:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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Johnnies register their most lopsided victory in over a decade

By: Andrew O'Connell

After five games on the road to open the season, the St. John's women's basketball team put on quite the show for the Carnesecca Arena faithful in its home opener. The Johnnies registered the most lopsided win of the Joe Tartamella era, dominating Delaware State from start to finish, 82-44, on Thursday night.

The Red Storm (5-1) registered its largest win in more than a decade, as the 38-point margin of victory was the program's highest since a 97-56 drubbing of Morgan State on Dec. 30, 2007.

Three St. John's players tallied double-doubles in the same game for the first time in six years, as Curteeona Brelove, Akina Wellere and Kayla Charles each reached double figures in both points and rebounds. Nadirah McKenith, Briana Brown and current assistant coach Shenneika Smith were the last three St. John's players to record double-doubles in the same outing, a 72-54 win over UCF on Nov. 11, 2012. That victory was also the first for Tartamella as the Red Storm's head coach.

As a team, the Red Storm grabbed 56 rebounds, the Johnnies' highest total since a 62-board showing at Marquette on Feb. 13, 2015.

"It was nice to have a home game in the month of November, so we were happy to be here," said Tartamella following the first home game of his seventh season at the helm of the program. "Certainly having three players with a double-double, 56 rebounds, and being able to score at the rate we did today was fun to watch. We continue to grow and get ready for the next one, but I am really pleased with our effort. Everybody had a chance to contribute, which also is fun, and obviously these two [Wellere and Brelove] had a great game."

Brelove tied a career-high with 20 points and finished one off her career-best with 13 boards. The redshirt senior sank nine of her 15 shots from the floor and grabbed seven of her 13 caroms off the offensive glass.

Making her 103rd appearance for the Red Storm, Wellere tallied her first double-double, pouring in 12 points and grabbing a career-high 11 rebounds. The Chicago native reached double figures in boards for the first time, topping her previous career-best of nine set as a sophomore at Seton Hall.

Charles, a sophomore, put on one of the most efficient efforts imaginable en route to her first career double-double. The Far Rockaway, N.Y., native needed just 12 minutes to set new career-highs with 11 points and 14 boards, seven of which were offensive.

Two others St. John's players reached double figures in scoring, as Qadashah Hoppie scored all 11 of her points in the first half while Alisha Kebbe netted 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including a 3-for-4 showing from long distance. Hoppie and Kebbe each added four assists, while Tiana England led St. John's in that category with five.

The Red Storm boasted five in double figures for the first time this season and set new high-water marks on the campaign for assists (19) and blocks (5).

NaJai Pollard scored a game-high 25 points for the Lady Hornets, who fell to 1-4 on the year.

Delaware State hung with the Red Storm early, making four of its first six field goal attempts and trailing by just one, 10-9, following a Pollard layup with three and a half minutes gone in the contest. The Johnnies promptly responded with an 8-0 run, as five points from Kebbe and a Hoppie triple made it 18-9 in favor of the Red Storm just two minutes later. St. John's continued to extend its lead, pulling ahead by 11, 23-12, at the close of the first quarter.

The start of the second quarter saw St. John's build its lead even higher, as the Johnnies outscored the Lady Hornets 12-2 over the first six minutes and built a 35-14 advantage just past the midway point of the frame.

The Red Storm led by as many as 25 in the opening half before an 8-0 run brought Delaware State within 17, 41-24, at the break.

Three Johnnies reached double figures before the break, as Hoppie tallied 11 while Kebbe and Brelove added 10 apiece.

St. John's came out of the locker room firing, outscoring Delaware State 13-5 over the opening five minutes and building its lead back to 25, 54-29, by the third-quarter media stoppage.

Leading by 23, 60-37, after 30 minutes of action, the Red Storm dominated the fourth frame, outscoring Delaware State by a margin of 22-7.

After one game at home, the Red Storm will hit the road again this weekend, traveling to Winston Salem for a showdown with Wake Forest on Sunday afternoon. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.