BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, N.Y. – The Stony Brook women's basketball team got the 2019-20 season off to a hot start on Tuesday night, downing host St. Francis Brooklyn by a score of 86-73 at the Pope Physical Education Center.
 
Seawolves newcomers graduate student G Kaela Hilaire (Queens, N.Y) and junior G Victoria Johnson (Camden, Miss.) along with junior F India Pagan (New London, Conn.) stood out, with each hitting double figures. 

McCOMBS REACTION
"I'm really proud of our group tonight. There were some momentum shifts throughout the game, but we really buckled when we needed to defensively in the second half. I think we saw some of the competitiveness that our players have and that was fun to see. The road environment was awesome for our first game and we are excited to build upon this experience."

HIGHLIGHTS

• After entering the fourth quarter down by one, 51-52, Stony Brook put the gas pedal down in the final 10 minutes, outscoring the Terriers by a 35-21 margin from 70.6 percent shooting. 
• The team blew the game open in the final period following a 12-0 run scoring run, leading by as much as 14 following a layup from Pagan.
• Despite the hole the Terriers dug themselves in, they still threatened down the stretch, responding with back-to-back threes to get as close as five with 1:38 left in the contest.
• The squad started the game much like it ended with hot shooting.
• Stony Brook went up 23-13 after the first quarter, hitting 73.3 percent of its shots.
•  The team found an 11-point lead following two layups in a row from sophomore F Anastasia Warren (Atlanta, Ga.).
• Hilaire led the offensive charge with 21 points as well as six rebounds and was a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line.
• Backing her up was Pagan, who notched a double-double from 19 points and 11 rebounds. 
• Johnson also hit double-figures with 17 points, hitting three shots from behind the arc.
• Graduate student F Cheyenne Clark (Deptford, N.J.) was the top rebounder on the court, pulling down 12 boards.

NOTES

• Stony Brook out-rebounded St. Francis Brooklyn by a 43-27 margin and forced the Terriers into 17 turnovers.
• From those turnovers, the Seawolves notched 18 points.
• The team scored 48 in the paint, 17 on second chance opportunities and 31 from the bench.
• Stony Brook now leads the all-time series with St. Francis Brooklyn, 4-2.

UP NEXT
Don't miss your chance to see the Seawolves take on Manhattan when they come home to the Island Federal Arena on Fri, Nov. 8 for the team's home opener. All the action is set to begin at 6:31 p.m.