Fueled by a lockdown defensive effort, the St. John’s Women’s Basketball team dominated its season opener over Monmouth, 78-39, on Monday afternoon at Carnesecca Arena.
The 39-point victory was St. John’s (1-0) largest margin of victory in a season opener in over 20 years, when it dominated St. Francis Brooklyn, 83-37 on Nov. 17, 2000.
Veteran guard Kadaja Bailey led the Red Storm with 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting from the field. The guard was a force on the glass adding a game-high nine rebounds and three blocks. Today’s outing marked the eighth time in her career she has exceeded the 20-point mark in a game.
Unique Drake provided a big boost off the bench adding 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting from field goal range.
The Red Storm derailed the offensive attack from the Hawks holding them to just 27.9 percent shooting and just 12 percent from three-point range.
Three transfers- Jayla Everett, Mimi Reid and Jillian Archer earned the start and made an instant splash for the Red Storm. Everett netted eight points in the first half, Reid led the team with four assists and Archer tied Bailey for the game-high of nine boards, including five on the offensive end.
From the tip, a swarming Red Storm defense held Monmouth (0-1) scoreless for the first 7:36 of the game, jumping out to a 15-0 lead.
The suffocating Red Storm defense forced eight turnovers and allowed just two points, 19-2, in the opening quarter, a program record for lowest scoring total by an opponent in a single quarter.
In the second quarter, Everett found her stroke from beyond-the-arc burying a triple off a fast break on a dish from Drake. Bailey continued to be in control, as the Johnnies ballooned its lead in the second quarter. The redshirt senior went 4-for-4 during the second frame, including a mid-range jumper with 2:48 left. On the closing play of the half, Drake collected an offensive rebound and sunk a floater as time expired to bring a 39-13 advantage into the locker room.
In the third quarter, Bailey and Drake combined for all six made field goals, as the pair of veteran guards were the game’s top-two scorers.
In the fourth quarter, the Red Storm continued to flex its muscle and extend its lead. In the final minute, Danielle Patterson stretched the Johnnies lead to their largest of the day, 42, when she drilled a jumper to make it 78-36 with 45 seconds left to play.
The Red Storm will return to action at Carnesecca Arena on Friday night at 7 p.m. when it welcomes St. Francis Brooklyn.
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