St. John's University Athletics
Women's Basketball Receiving Votes In Both Polls
12/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 1, 2009
QUEENS, N.Y. - Off to a perfect 5-0 start this season and winning the FIU Thanksgiving Classic with wins over Florida and Saint Joseph's this past weekend, the St. John's women's basketball team is receiving votes in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Polls in week three.
The Red Storm has been recognized for three-straight weeks in the AP Poll and received nine votes in the current poll. For the first time this season, St. John's was recognized in the Coaches Poll, receiving one vote this week.
The 5-0 start for St. John's marks the fifth time in history the Red Storm has opened up a season on a five-game winning streak, four coming under the direction of eighth-year head coach Kim Barnes Arico.
Sophomore Da'Shena Stevens is leading the team in scoring and rebounding. She is averaging 18.2 points, shooting a team-high 65.6 percent from the field and grabbing 7.8 rebounds per game. She has led the team in scoring four times, including two 20-plus point performances, and recorded a double-double against Florida on Nov. 27 with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Stevens has been named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll for two-straight weeks.
Rookie Shenneika Smith is off to a stellar start with the Red Storm and is currently second on the team in scoring with 14.6 points per game. The dynamic guard has scored 10 or more points in every game this season and is the third-leading rebounder with an average of 5.8 boards per game. She leads the team with seven blocks, is second on the team with 18 assists and is third with 10 steals. She leads all players averaging 30.8 minutes per game and has started every game for STJ.
St. John's will look to extend its winning streak on Tuesday at 7 p.m. when it hosts Stetson.
