St. John's University Athletics
St. John's Heads to Butler on Thursday
1/4/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
FOX Sports Go | Live Stats | Game Notes | Digital Media Guide
INDIANAPOLIS - Having won seven of its last eight games, the St. John's women's basketball team visits the historic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis to take on Butler on Thursday.
The game between the Red Storm and Bulldogs will be broadcast live at 7 p.m. on the BIG EAST Digital Network. Mark Minner and Tara Miller will have the call with Matt Schumaker on the sideline.
NEWS & NOTES
The Red Storm improved to 3-1 in true road games after a 65-48 victory at Xavier on Monday. Senior Jade Walker scored a career-high 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds to lead St. John's to its first BIG EAST win of the season.
Walker has stepped up her play in the first two games of BIG EAST action so far. The Maplewood, N.J., native is averaging 22.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game and is one of three St. John's players averaging double figures in conference play.
Freshman Alisha Kebbe is averaging 10.5 points while sophomore Akina Wellere is averaging 10.0 points per game in two league contests this season.
Walker wasn't the only Johnny to set a career-high against Xavier. Aaliyah Lewis dished out a career-best 13 assists and continues to showcase her court vision this season. The senior now ranks second in the BIG EAST with 5.5 dimes per game. Known for her energetic style of play and durability, Lewis has led the BIG EAST in minutes per game all season, averaging 35.7 minutes of game action this year.
Throughout the 2016-17 campaign, St. John's has had one of the best defensive units in the nation. Entering play on Wednesday, the Red Storm rank eighth in Division I in scoring defense, allowing just 51.8 points per game. From the field, opponents are shooting just 34.0 percent against the Johnnies, which ranks 17th in the country. Additionally, St. John's has held its opponents to just 23.3 percent from behind the arc, good enough for fourth in the nation.
SCOUTING BUTLER
• Butler enters play on Thursday with an overall record of 4-10 and 1-2 in BIG EAST play. The Bulldogs are coming off a 79-58 win over Seton Hall on Monday. The win over the Pirates snapped a four-game skid for the Bulldogs.
• Butler was picked to finish eighth in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches Poll.
The Bulldogs are led by the trio of Tori Schickel, Kristen Spolyar and Michelle Weaver.
Spolyar enters play on Wednesday as the 10th-leading scorer in the BIG EAST with 13.9 points per game. Right behind her is Shickel's 13.6 points per contest.
Schickel's 10.2 rebounds per game rank second in the conference, while her 52.6 field goal percentage sits third in the league.
• As a team, Butler ranks last in the BIG EAST in scoring, averaging 56.4 points per game.
ST. JOHN'S vs. BUTLER -- THE SERIES
Thursday will mark the seventh meeting between St. John's and Butler.
• Overall, the Johnnies hold a 4-2 advantage in the series history, including a 2-1 mark in games played in Indianapolis.
•Last season, the two teams split their two meetings with the home team successfully defending their home court.
• Imani Littleton went for 14 points and nine rebounds in the Jan. 22 meeting in Queens last year.
