St. John's University Athletics
St. John's Welcomes Wagner on Saturday
12/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ESPN3 | | Game Notes | Media Guide | Tickets
QUEENS, N.Y. - St. John's goes for its fifth-straight win on Saturday at Carnesecca Arena when the Johnnies host Wagner in a non-conference tilt in Queens. The Red Storm is averaging 60.5 points per game while allowing just 41.5 points per contest during its current four-game win streak.
Saturday's game will be broadcast live on ESPN3 with Mike Watts and Nkwa Asonye on the call. The opening tip is scheduled for 2 p.m.
NEWS & NOTES
Jade Walker has led the offense over the past four games, averaging 13.3 points per contest. Walker broke out for 18 points and eight rebounds in the Johnnies' last outing against Fordham.
Alisha Kebbe followed up a strong game against Rutgers with an even stronger performance at Fordham. The freshman scored a season-best 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds. The Philadelphia, Pa., native also had a pair of steals and hit 2-of-4 from behind the arc.
The Johnnies rank 11th in the nation allowing 51.7 points per game and 18th in opponent's field goal percentage (33.6). St. John's leads the BIG EAST in both of those categories entering play on Saturday. Additionally, St. John's ranks 10th in the country and leads the conference in three-point field goal defense, allowing opponents to make just 24.1 percent of their tries from deep.
Akina Wellere ranks third in the nation and leads the BIG EAST in three-point field goal percentage, sinking threes at a 59.4 percent clip.
Aaliyah Lewis continues to showcase her passing skills. The senior ranks second in the BIG EAST with 5.1 dimes per contest and her 1.8 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks seventh in the conference.
Following Saturday's contest with Wagner, the Johnnies host James Madison on Dec. 21 to close out the non-conference portion of the 2016-17 slate. St. John's opens BIG EAST play on Dec. 30, traveling to Seton Hall for a 7 p.m. start on FS2.
SCOUTING WAGNER
Wagner enters play on Saturday with an overall record of 1-8. The Seahawks have lost their past seven contests after defeating the College of Staten Island in the second game of the season.
The Seahawks are led by Tanasia Russell, who is averaging 11.8 points per game. Julia McClure and Corinn baggs are the leading rebounders, averaging 6.9 and 5.4 boards per contest, respectively.
As a team, Wagner is shooting 31.6 percent from the floor and 28.0 percent from three-point range. Opponents are scoring 68.9 points per game, while the Seahawks average 46.3 points per contest. Wagner has scored more than 50 points just three times this season. On the glass, Wagner is being out-rebounded by an average of 10.4 boards per game.
ST. JOHN'S vs. WAGNER -- THE SERIES
Saturday's matchup between St. John's and Wagner will be the 16th meeting all-time between the two programs with the Red Storm holding a considerable advantage in the series history.
The Red Storm has won 14 of the 15 contests between the two schools, including the last 13.
The only time the Seahawks topped the Red Storm came all the way back on March 1, 1975.
• The two teams last met on Nov. 30, 2014, when St. John's beat Wagner, 71-49, behind 21 points from Aliyyah Handford.
