DANCING IN KNOXVILLE: Day One Recap

Red Storm head coach Joe Tartamella addressed the NCAA Tournament media on Friday ahead of St. John's clash with USC in the First Round.

3/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

March 21, 2014

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.- After travelling from New York to Knoxville, Tenn. yesterday, the eighth-seeded St. John's women's basketball team spent Friday, March 21, practicing at Thompson-Boling Arena in preparation of its matchup against ninth-seeded USC in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. Saturday's contest will be televised on ESPN2 and will also be simulcast via ESPN3 at 6:30 p.m.

For the Red Storm it's their fifth-consecutive trip to the Big Dance. The Red Storm's selection to the field of 64 marks second-year head coach Joe Tartamella's second bid to the NCAA Tournament but his sixth overall trip with the program as he was associate head coach from 2008-12 and assistant coach in 2006.

"From what we've seen, USC has a number of weapons. They have kids that, coming out of high school, were McDonald's All-Americans, and they have a number of different things they can throw at you," Tartamella stated. "Obviously, they have a strong post presence inside with their two starters and also their guard play is very dynamic. We feel that we have all the tools necessary to match up. We have to get out there and play."

St. John's (22-10, 13-5 BIG EAST) finished the regular season second in the BIG EAST conference and earned the second seed in the conference tournament. The Red Storm advanced to the BIG EAST Tournament Final for the fourth time in program history and the first time since 1988, but ultimately fell, 65-57, to top-seeded DePaul. Aliyyah Handford was named to the 2014 BIG EAST All-Tournament Team after averaging 18.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 steals in the Red Storm's 2-1 run throughout the tournament. Following a standout sophomore campaign, which included breaking St. John's 38-year record for most points by a sophomore, Handford was a unanimous selection to the All-BIG EAST First Team, while senior Eugeneia McPherson was honored with the 2013-14 BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award, junior Amber Thompson was selected BIG EAST Honorable Mention and freshman Jade Walker was tabbed to the league's All-Freshman Team.