St. John's University Athletics
Red Storm Hosts Xavier in BIG EAST Season-Opener
12/2/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
QUEENS, N.Y. - Having already registered the best start to a season under Head Coach Joe Tartamella, the St. John's Red Storm will look to kick off BIG EAST play with a victory, hosting Xavier on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the BIG EAST Digital Network with Jonathan Yardley and Julianne Viani on the call.
QUICK HITS
The Red Storm went a perfect 3-0 last week, collecting wins over Marist, Binghamton and Wagner. After taking a one-point victory from the perennial mid-major power in Poughkeepsie, the Red Storm turned in a pair of convincing wins at home, besting Binghamton by 16 before downing Wagner by 22. For her performance in those games, Aliyyah Handford was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll, it was announced on Monday morning.
Junior guard Danaejah Grant has reached double figure scoring numbers in all five games this year for the Red Storm, leading the team with an average of 20.2 points per game. In addition to shooting 43 percent from the floor, the Piscataway, N.J., native is also a capable rebounder and ball distributor, pulling down six boards and dishing out three assists per contest. Grant is the BIG EAST's leading scorer this season.
A Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention selection this season, senior forward Amber Thompson has been an absolute force on the glass for the Red Storm this season. Through five contests, Thompson has pulled down no fewer than 10 boards on any occasion and currently ranks eighth in the country with 12.8 rebounds per game. On Sunday against Wagner, Thompson recorded her first double-double of the season, tallying 14 points and 10 rebounds to help lead her team to victory. For her career, Thompson now holds possessions of fifth place on the school's career rebounding list and sits just one block shy of tying for fifth place on that career list.
SCOUTING XAVIER
After finishing 8-23 overall and 3-15 in conference during their first season in the BIG EAST a year ago, the Xavier Musketeers are off to a hot start in 2014-15, picking up five wins in their first six contests.
The Musketeers only loss of the season came against Virginia, who currently sits at 43 in the RPI.
After claiming victory by an average of 23 points in their first three wins, the Musketeers have since squeaked out a 45-43 win over Presbyterian and a 70-65 overtime victory against Robert Morris.
As a team, the Musketeers are allowing just 58.8 points per game, the third-best mark in the BIG EAST behind St. John's and Villanova.
Through five games, Xavier is forcing nearly 20 turnovers per contest, 10.5 of which are a result of steals.
Individually, the Musketeers feature two scorers in double figures, Briana Glover (12.3 ppg) and Raeshaun Gaffney (10.7 ppg).
ST. JOHN'S VS. XAVIER - THE SERIES
The Red Storm and the Musketeers faced off against one another for the first time a season ago, with each team claiming victory on their home floor.
St. John's dropped a 70-65 decision on Jan. 5 of this year in Cincinnati before pounding the Musketeers, 80-48, just over three weeks later in Queens.
Amber Thompson tallied 10 points and 16 rebounds in the Red Storm's home win last season, the seventh victory in an 11-game winning streak.
