Le Moyne Women’s Basketball Falls Short in Season Opener Against St. John’s

Queens, N.Y. – The Le Moyne College women’s basketball team began the 2025-26 season on a challenging note, suffering a 68-53 defeat to St. John’s University at Carnesecca Arena on Monday afternoon.

Player Highlights

Freshman Kayden Clark from Oakhurst, New Jersey, emerged as the standout performer for Le Moyne. In her collegiate debut, she scored 14 points, showcasing impressive accuracy with 72% shooting, including a perfect 4-4 from beyond the arc. Clark also contributed with one assist, three rebounds, and one steal in 30 minutes of gameplay.

Senior guard Sierra Linnin contributed significantly as well, finishing with 10 points. Junior forward Ashley Buragas added eight points, while both sophomore guard Eli Clark and freshman guard Peyton Dincher posted seven points each.

Defensive and Team Stats

Le Moyne’s performance from three-point range was notable, shooting 56.3% (9-16) while limiting St. John’s to just 20% (5-25) on similar attempts. The Dolphins also capitalized on their bench strength, accounting for 14 points during the matchup.

Eli Clark not only tied her career-high with seven rebounds but also led the team with seven assists, making a significant impact on both ends of the court.

Game Overview

The game began with Buragas putting Le Moyne on the scoreboard with four quick points, followed by Clark’s early three-pointer, establishing a brief 7-3 lead. However, St. John’s rallied, ending the first quarter ahead by 18-13.

The Red Storm surged in the second quarter with an 18-point run, extending their lead significantly. Despite efforts from Le Moyne, including threes from Clark and Linnin, they ended the half trailing 38-20.

In the third quarter, Le Moyne attempted to close the gap, aided by a series of free throws and a three from Linnin, bringing the score to 53-36 by the end of the third frame.

Ultimately, an eight-point run late in the fourth quarter, featuring back-to-back threes from Clark and Dincher, narrowed the deficit to 57-44. However, St. John’s maintained control, securing a 68-53 victory as the final whistle blew.

Next Steps

Looking ahead, Le Moyne will travel to Easton, Pennsylvania, for their next outing against the Lafayette College Leopards on Sunday, November 9, at 11:00 a.m.