St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
13-4, 4-2BE
DePaul
13-5, 5-1BE
DePaul Downs St. John's in Overtime, 84-75
1/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Final Stats | Quotes | Photo Gallery 
QUEENS, N.Y. - The largest home crowd in St. John's women's basketball history was treated to a thrilling BIG EAST clash on Friday afternoon, an overtime battle between the top two teams in the conference. Unfortunately for the home fans, DePaul (13-5, 5-1 BIG EAST) outscored the Red Storm 11-2 in the extra period, as the Blue Demons came away with an 84-75 victory.
"This is obviously a tough loss at home against a great team," said Head Coach Joe Tartamella. "I thought we let another opportunity get away from us here at home. We weren't able to finish down the stretch. Free throws came back to bite us and we gave up too many threes today. We had the game somewhat in control towards the end, but gave up a big three to a great player and then had a tough time in overtime. We were a little gassed in the overtime and [DePaul] made their plays. However, I thought we played extremely hard throughout and we gave great effort. We were right there, so from that standpoint I'm pleased."
Friday marked the first time that St. John's (13-4, 4-2 BIG EAST) had ever sold out a women's home game at Carnesecca Arena, as 5,602 fans packed the house as part of the team's annual Field Trip Day.
"The atmosphere was awesome," said Tartamella. "The kids were great. Seeing them dance and get ready for the game, that's what it's about. They were excited about the game and it was close throughout, which was good for them. It was fantastic. They told us it was going to be sold out and it was every bit sold out. It's great for women's basketball and it's great for both teams, to be able to play in that kind of atmosphere. It certainly gave us some energy throughout the game."
Aliyyah Handford scored 20 or more points for the fourth straight game, tallying a game-high 25 on 10-for-20 shooting. The junior guard, who played all 45 minutes for the Red Storm, also registered seven rebounds and three steals.
Danaejah Grant finished the contest with 23 points on 10-for-18 shooting, marking the third time this season that she and Handford have each scored 20 or more in the same outing. Grant also chipped in five boards, two assists and two steals in 45 minutes of action.
Amber Thompson, who entered the game as the nation's sixth-leading rebounder at 11.9 boards per game, corralled 14 rebounds in the loss. The senior forward from Newark, N.J., also added six points, three assists and a pair of blocks.
Sophomore guard Aaliyah Lewis recorded seven or more assists for the fourth time in the past five games, finishing the contest with nine points, seven helpers and a pair of steals.
Jade Walker narrowly missed a double-double against DePaul, tallying eight points and eight boards on the afternoon.
Brittany Hrynko led the Blue Demons with 25 points and five assists on the afternoon, one of five DePaul players to finish the game in double figures.
The Red Storm got off to a hot start from the floor, knocking down three of its first four shots and jumping out to a 6-3 lead, forcing an early timeout from the Blue Demons just 90 seconds into the contest.
St. John's continued to convert in the ensuing minutes, jumping out by as many as six, 13-7, following a three-pointer from Lewis and a Handford free throw near the 15-minute mark of the half.
From there, DePaul began a tear, rattling off seven unanswered and taking its first lead in several minutes, 14-13,on a three-pointer from Meghan Podkowa and forcing a St. John's timeout.
The Blue Demons continued to hit from beyond the arc, as five of their first seven made field goals came from three-point land. Trailing 20-17, the Red Storm managed to answer, reclaiming the lead, 21-20, following an acrobatic layup through contact from Handford near the eight-minute mark of the period.
The Red Storm continued to build its lead, extending its run as high as 12-2 and taking a 29-22 advantage on another Handford layup with just over six minutes to go in the opening half.
DePaul charged back in the period's closing minutes, outscoring the Red Storm 15-7 and claiming a one-point lead at the intermission, 37-36.
The Blue Demons extended their lead in the early going of the second half, pulling ahead by five, 43-38, on a pair of Podkowa free throws less than four minutes into the action.
Down five, the Red Storm began a slow 8-3 run over the next few minutes, limiting DePaul to just three points over 4:30 and tying the game at 46 with 13 minutes to go.
After the two teams went back and forth for a number of possessions, Grant banked in her 19th and 20th points of the afternoon, moving the Red Storm ahead 52-51 and giving her team its first lead of the half at the midway point of the period.
Down one, DePaul quickly ignited another run, this time outscoring the Red Storm 9-2 over the next 1:10 and moving ahead by six, 60-54.
Facing its largest deficit of the game, the Red Storm showed no quit, as Walker scored four points during an 8-2 run, once again tying the score at 62, with just under five minutes left in the game.
After DePaul went ahead by one just over a minute later, Handford put on an individual effort to show why she's recognized among the league's best. Just inside half court, the junior leapt to steal a DePaul pass, took the ball the down the floor and sunk a tough layup through contact. After Handford sank the free throw, the Red Storm led, 67-65.
DePaul tied the game on the ensuing offensive possession with a Chanise Jenkins layup, but Handford nailed a midrange jumper the next time she touched the ball, putting the Red Storm back on top, 69-67.
The Blue Demons moved within one, 69-68, on a Centrese McGee free throw two possessions later, but Grant sank a tough layup with 1:35 to go to move the Red Storm back ahead by three, 71-68.
After Handford went one-for-two from the charity stripe with just over a minute remaining, Hrynko hit another triple, her fourth of the game, to move the Blue Demons back within one, 72-71, with 48 ticks left on the clock.
On the ensuing possession, Grant went hard to the hole and drew contact, earning two free throws and converting on the first, pushing the Red Storm's lead to two, 73-71, with under 20 seconds to go. During the scrum for the loose ball following the missed second free throw, Thompson picked up a foul and Brooke Schulte of DePaul nailed both, tying the contest at 73.
The Red Storm had a chance to win the game in regulation, but a Handford three-pointer fell just short at the buzzer, sending the game into overtime.
DePaul came out of the gate firing in overtime, scoring the first seven points of the extra period. St. John's was unable to dig itself out of the hole, eventually falling 84-75.
The Red Storm will be back in action on Sunday, hosting Marquette at 2 p.m. on ESPN3.
