Moore’s 15 Points Lead St. John’s Past Le Moyne 68-53 in Season Opener

QUEENS, N.Y. – Brooke Moore came off the bench to score a game-high 15 points, leading St. John’s to a 68-53 victory over Le Moyne in both teams’ season opener Sunday afternoon at Carnesecca Arena.

The Red Storm (1-0) used a dominant second quarter to pull away from the Dolphins (0-1), outscoring the visitors 20-7 in the frame to build a 38-20 halftime advantage they would never relinquish.

Moore Sparks St. John’s Off the Bench

Moore’s efficient performance set the tone for a balanced St. John’s attack that saw four players reach double figures. The reserve forward shot 5-of-12 from the field and a perfect 5-of-6 from the free-throw line while adding eight rebounds, two assists, and four blocks in 30 minutes of action.

“Brooke gave us exactly what we needed today,” said St. John’s head coach in his postgame comments. “Her energy off the bench and ability to impact the game on both ends were crucial.”

Daniela Abies added 10 points and a game-high 15 rebounds for the Red Storm, dominating the glass with nine offensive boards. Jailah Donald (9 points), Janeya Grant (9 points on three three-pointers), and Skye Owen (8 points, 3 assists) rounded out the double-digit scorers for St. John’s.

Le Moyne’s Clark Leads Dolphins in Defeat

Kayden Clark paced Le Moyne with 14 points on an efficient 5-of-7 shooting, including 4-of-4 from beyond the arc. The junior guard showed her range early, helping the Dolphins build a brief 4-0 lead in the opening minutes.

Sierra Linnin added 10 points for Le Moyne, while Ashley Buragas contributed eight points despite battling foul trouble throughout the contest. Eli Clark recorded seven points and a team-high seven rebounds and seven assists, narrowly missing a triple-double opportunity.

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Second Quarter Surge Proves Decisive

After a competitive first quarter that saw St. John’s take just an 18-13 lead, the Red Storm seized control in the second period. A 15-0 run midway through the quarter, fueled by Grant’s back-to-back three-pointers and Moore’s interior presence, pushed the advantage to 36-13.

Le Moyne managed just 2-of-12 shooting in the second quarter and committed six turnovers, allowing St. John’s to build a commanding 38-20 halftime lead.

“We struggled to take care of the basketball in that second quarter,” said Le Moyne head coach. “Against a team with St. John’s athleticism, those turnovers turned into easy baskets.”

Red Storm Control the Paint and Glass

St. John’s dominated the interior battle, outscoring Le Moyne 34-16 in points in the paint and holding a 43-30 advantage on the boards. The Red Storm’s 18 offensive rebounds led to 16 second-chance points, compared to just six for the Dolphins.

Moore’s four blocks led a defensive effort that also included three rejections from Owen. St. John’s forced 20 Le Moyne turnovers and converted them into 28 points, compared to just six points off turnovers for the Dolphins.

Dolphins Show Fight in Second Half

To their credit, Le Moyne refused to fold after the halftime deficit. The Dolphins outscored St. John’s 16-15 in the third quarter, with Linnin knocking down a pair of three-pointers to trim the lead to 53-36 entering the final period.

The visitors continued to battle in the fourth, with Clark connecting on two more triples as part of a stretch that cut the deficit to 57-44 with 6:13 remaining. But the Red Storm answered every challenge, with Moore scoring six of her 15 points in the final quarter to maintain a comfortable margin.

Bench Production Makes the Difference

St. John’s reserves outscored Le Moyne’s bench 40-14, with Moore leading the way. Grant added nine points off the bench, while Abies contributed 10 points in a reserve role.

Three-Point Shooting Splits

While Le Moyne shot a respectable 56.3 percent (9-of-16) from three-point range, St. John’s struggled from distance, connecting on just 5-of-25 attempts (20.0 percent). The Red Storm compensated with their interior dominance and ability to get to the free-throw line, attempting 24 free throws compared to just 10 for Le Moyne.

Looking Ahead

St. John’s will look to build on the season-opening victory as they begin Big East play in the coming weeks. The Red Storm’s ability to control the paint and generate offense from their bench unit will be key factors as competition intensifies.

Le Moyne, playing in its first season at the Division I level as a member of the Northeast Conference, showed flashes of competitiveness but will need to improve ball security and interior defense. The Dolphins’ perimeter shooting and Clark’s leadership provide a foundation to build upon.

By the Numbers

St. John’s Standouts:

• Brooke Moore: 15 points, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks (5-12 FG, 5-6 FT)
• Daniela Abies: 10 points, 15 rebounds (9 offensive)
• Bench scoring: 40 points

Le Moyne Leaders:

• Kayden Clark: 14 points (5-7 FG, 4-4 3PT)
• Sierra Linnin: 10 points
• Eli Clark: 7 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists

Key Stats:

• Points in the paint: St. John’s 34, Le Moyne 16
• Rebounds: St. John’s 43, Le Moyne 30
• Points off turnovers: St. John’s 28, Le Moyne 6
• Second-chance points: St. John’s 16, Le Moyne 6
• Bench points: St. John’s 40, Le Moyne 14

Game Notes:

• Attendance: 427
• Referees: Ryan Nunes, Kara Hunter, Michael DoCouto
• St. John’s improves to 1-0 overall, 0-0 Big East
• Le Moyne falls to 0-1 overall, 0-0 NEC

• Attendance: 427
• Referees: Ryan Nunes, Kara Hunter, Michael DoCouto
• St. John’s improves to 1-0 overall, 0-0 Big East
• Le Moyne falls to 0-1 overall, 0-0 NEC