Standish, ME - First-year Carolyn Freeman (Scarborough, ME) led the way for St. Joe's with her first intercollegiate double-double (16 points, 10 rebounds) as the Monks defeated Maine-Presque Isle 66-49 in game one of the Merry Monk Classic.
Junior captain Megan Farrell (Abington, MA) and sophomore Megan Willette (Waterville, ME) turned in strong performances for the Monks with 11 points apiece.
Willette broke an 8-8 tie at 15:35 with the first of her three baskets from behind the arc and St. Joe's would keep the lead for the rest of the contest. The Monks ended the first half with a 7-0 run to go up 34-22 on two jumpers by Farrell and a three pointer by Freeman.
Junior captain Marie Lint (Orono, ME) started the second half with back-to-back baskets in the paint as St. Joe's outscored Presque Isle 16-8 over the first seven minutes of the half.
The Owls went on an 8-0 run to close within 12 points, 50-38 at the 11-minute mark, but baskets by Freeman and Willette kept the Monks in charge. St. Joe's suffered another four-minute scoring drought with six minutes to play and Presque Isle cut the lead to 57-47 after a three-point play by junior Julie Wescott (Westbrook, ME). Farrell and FY Allison Miner (Pembroke, NH) connected on key baskets and free throws during the final two minutes to secure the SJC victory.
Presque Isle sophomore Erica Davis (Cumberland, ME) recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 boards, FY Nicole Russell (Newcastle, ME) had 8 points and Wescott finished with 7.
In Game 2 of the Classic, senior Nasira Johnson (Newark, NJ) scored a game-high 17 points to lead John Jay College to a 66-49 victory over College of Saint Joseph (VT). Three other players scored in double digits for the Bloodhounds as senior Lashannen Hogue (Yonkers, NY) posted a double-double (12 points, 13 rebounds), junior Mahogany Payne (Columbia, SC) had 12 points and senior Melissa Escalera (Bronx, NY) finished with 11 points and 8 rebounds.
CSJ sophomore Irene Tompkins (Schenectady, NY) led the Fighting Saints with 15 points, 8 rebounds and junior Vicki Guetti (Rutland, VT) recorded a double-double (13 points, 15 rebounds). Sophomore Michelle Thompson (Plymouth, NH) had 11 points and 6 assists.
John Jay jumped out to an early 12-3 lead but the Fighting Saints battled back to cut the lead to four points with seven minutes remaining in the first half. The Bloodhounds tried to pull away, taking a 25-15 lead at 2:25 but a three pointer by Tompkins and a jumper by junior Tahara Pleasure (Albany, NY) kept the Fighting Saints in the game. A three pointer by Payne with four seconds to go in the half gave John Jay a 28-22 lead.
The Bloodhounds came out of the locker room and took control with a 10-2 run and would lead by as much as 24 during the half as Johnson pushed the ball up and dictated the tempo of the contest.
