The story of theSeawolves season is not a question of why they are yet to win a game but if orwhen Jordan will return to play. Jordan is suspended indefinitely for violationof team rules and hasn’t even practiced with the team for over a month.Coach Trish Roberts said that Jordan has kept close contact with the team butis tired of talking about the situation and would offer no timetable as to whenJordan will return.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘?What happens in the family stays in the family,’ she said.’?Right now I’m concerned about this team and the players that arehere.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The people that are on the team right now are still searching. They aresearching for their first win, some team chemistry and a proven scorer.’?We’re looking for someone who can score and scoreconsistently,’ Roberts said.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ This time sophomore guard Stephanie Barlett, playing point guard this seasonfor the first time in her life, took on the role. She played almost the entiregame and finished with 22 points, shooting 3 for 6 from three-point range.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Barlett, like all the other starters aside from Danielle DeGiorgio, is new toplaying significant minutes. ‘?This year is more like a learningexperience,’ Barlett said. She dismissed the idea that the Jordan-sagahas been a distraction to the team.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘?We miss Sherry but she’s not here with us so we can’t worryabout that,’ she said.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ St. John’s head coach Kim Arico, a former SBU basketball player, told herteam to take advantage of the Jordan-less Seawolves, a team that is alsomissing Theresa LoParrino, who is still battling back from an ACL injury fromlast season.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The Red Storm coach discovered that her team had been placed in the same lockerroom she had as a player during the 1998-99 season. ‘?I’d love to besitting back there on those benches,’ she said. ‘?I told them totake advantage of these opportunities.’ And they did.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ St. John’s had their top scorer, Danielle Rainey, who scored 23 pointswith six rebounds.’ Arico compared the Seawolves playing without Jordan toher team losing Rainey. ‘?It must be tough for them,’ she said.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ It was tough for them to find a basket in the first half. They shot 36.4% whileSt. John’s opened a 41-25 lead by halftime. While Stony Brook struggledto find baskets and fluidity, they gave up easy shots on the other end. SJUshot 64.0% in the first half, the timeframe during which the game was decided.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Coach Roberts flatly said her team just didn’t play well. They are stillsearching for something that works. A soft-spoken Barlett offered some ideas.’?We need to get some more intensity,’ she said. ‘?We’restill looking for a leader.’
