LEWISTON, Maine -- Bates women's basketball led wire-to-wire, and preseason All-American Meghan Graff equaled a personal season-high with 28 points, as the Bobcats sent off in-state foe Saint Joseph's College by a count of 86-63 Thursday night at Alumni Gymnasium.

Owning a 17-13 advantage after the initial 10:00 of play, the garnet and white scorched Saint Joseph's in the second quarter, 25-11, to strut into intermission with a comfy 42-24 cushion. Maintaining a 20-point lead (65-45) after the third period, the home team reached a high-water mark of 31 points as a Jenna Berens (Sr.-Durham, Conn.) jumper put the Bobcats in front by a score of 76-45 with 7:19 remaining in regulation.

Now winners of four of its last five outings, Bates moves to 4-2 on the young season. The Monks, coming in having won its previous two contests, falls to 4-3 overall.

Graff (South Portland, Maine), who previously hit for 28 points back on Nov. 27 in a home game vs. Worcester Polytechnic Institute, went 12-for-19 from the floor while also collecting four assists and six steals. The senior now averages 20.7 points-per-game over the Bobcats' first six efforts.

Morgan Kennedy (Jr.-Oklahoma City, Okla.) and Alexandra Long (So.-Newtown, Pa.) provided matching 11-point offensive performances for Bates. Sophie Spolter (Fy.-Blacklick, Ohio) followed with 10 points of her own for the Bobcats. Kayla Bridgeman (Sr.-Brooklyn, N.Y.) paced the squad with five assists.

Jayne Howe (Sr.-Pembroke, Mass.) and Nina Howe (Jr.-York, Maine) each scored 11 points to top St. Joe's.

Bates returns to the home hardwood Tuesday, Dec. 6 as the Bobcats take on Colby in a non-conference game at 7pm.