STANDISH, ME – Saint Joseph's College (12-3, 3-0 GNAC) defeated Thomas College (2-12, 2-6 NAC), 81-36, in non-conference women's basketball action at the Harold AlfondHarold Alfond Center on Wednesday evening.

The Monks netted the game's first six points as part of a 17-4 run over the first 8:09 of play as freshman Abbie Eastman (Norway, Maine) drilled a three-pointer off a Danica Gleason (South Portland, Maine) pass to lift the hosts to a 13-point advantage. The Terriers fought back with a 12-4 surge of their own, as a Katie McAllister (Pittston, Maine) free throw cut the visitors' deficit to five points (21-16) nearly five minutes later, but Saint Joseph's outscored Thomas by a 12-5 margin for the remainder of the first half and carried a 33-21 cushion into intermission.

The Monks continued to pad their lead in the second stanza and freshman forward Molly Mack (Portland, Maine/McAuley) provided the Royal Blue with their largest lead of the night when she capped the game scoring on a jumper with 24 seconds left.

Overall, 11 different players scored at least two points in the convincing win, with sophomore center Morgan Cahill (Yarmouth, Maine) notching a team-high 19 points – along with six rebounds – in just 19 minutes. Senior forward Lindsay Moore (Barrington, N.H.) added 12 points, eight boards and a pair of steals, Mack broke out with a season-high 10 points - off a 4-5 performance from the field – to go with six caroms, and Gleason contributed eight points on the night. Senior forward Abby Young (North Yarmouth, Maine) chipped in with seven points and six rebounds, senior guard Skyler Makkinje (Hillsboro, N.H.) posted five points, and junior guard Sarah Assante (Standish, Maine) added five points and three steals in the victory.

McAllister netted nine points to lead the Terriers while Emilee Reynolds (Newport, Maine) scored six and Elizabeth Goodall (Oakfield, Maine), Kate Thibodeau (Woolwich, Maine), Ashlee Crowell-Smith (Vassalboro, Maine) and Morgan Hutchins (Dixfield, Maine) contributed four points apiece in the losing effort.

Saint Joseph's shot 45.7% (32-70) from the floor, 38.9% (7-18) from three-point range and 66.7% (10-15) from the free throw line in the triumph. Thomas shot 27% (10-37) from the field, 12.5% (1-8) from downtown and 57.7% (15-26) from the charity stripe in a losing bid.

The Monks held considerable leads in rebounds (49-26), assists (20-4), points off turnovers (30-5), points in paint (38-8) and bench points (41-11) on the night.

Saint Joseph's returns to action on Saturday when the team hosts GNAC-rival Norwich University at 1:00 PM. Thomas travels to Green Mountain College on Thursday for a North Atlantic Conference game starting at 7:30 PM.

GAME NOTES:

Saint Joseph's improves to 56-5 in the history of the series with Thomas College with tonight's victory…the Monks have defeated the Terriers in seven-straight meetings dating back to the 2008-09 campaign…St. Joe's has won five-consecutive games for the first time since late in the 2011-12 season…the Terriers have now dropped six in a row and have not won a game in 2014…Thomas Head Coach Dan Leland is a 1984 Saint Joseph's graduate and played baseball for the Monks…SJC pulled down a season-high 23 offensive boards in this evening's win.

UP NEXT:

Saint Joseph's is 13-6 all-time versus Norwich University (6-7, 1-2 GNAC) and has defeated the Cadets in three-consecutive matchups…Norwich is 5-5 in their last 10 games and ended a three-game skid with a 70-43 win over Mount Ida College on Monday.

Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 430-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.