MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) – Sophomore Meg Bulger scored 23 points to lead West Virginia to a 74-59 win over Maine in the first round of the women’s National Invitation Tournament on Friday night.

West Virginia (18-12) moves on to Monday’s second round, when it will play fellow Big East member St. John’s (20-10) at an undetermined site.

Yolanda Paige added 17 points for West Virginia. Freshmen LaQuita Owens and Olayinka Sanni had 11 points apiece.

Bulger, the Big East’s leading scorer this season, made five 3-pointers. The Mountaineers went 9-of-18 for the game.

Ashley Underwood scored 14 points for Maine (20-10). Monica Peterson added 12.

Maine made all 24 free-throw attempts but shot just 32 percent from the floor.

Maine scored the game’s first points but trailed the rest of the way.

West Virginia led 33-24 at halftime and by as many as 16 points on two occasions in the second half.