St. John's University Athletics
Unique Drake Named Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention
10/24/2023 9:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Red Storm were picked sixth in the preseason poll
NEW YORK- St. John's women's basketball redshirt senior guard Unique Drake was named All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention, the conference office announced on Tuesday.
The Red Storm were picked sixth in the preseason coaches' poll which is announced prior to the league's annual media day held at Madison Square Garden.
The reigning BIG EAST Sixth-Woman of the Year earns conference recognition after leading all bench players in scoring averaging 8.6 points per game in 2022-23.
The guard made appearances in all 32 games last year but only made a single start at Butler on Dec. 2. She ranked second on the team with 38 3-pointers and shot 37.7 percent from beyond-the-arc.
The Columbia, S.C., native reached double-figures in scoring in 10 out of 32 contests during her senior season. She poured in a season-high 19 points during a pivotal road win at DePaul on Jan. 21.
In the NCAA Tournament First Four, Drake matched a career-high drilling four triples during the 66-64 victory over Purdue, the program's first win in the Big Dance in nine years.
Drake returns a wealth of experience entering her fifth season in Queens. She has appeared in 114 career games for the Red Storm and made 40 total starts.
UConn was the overwhelming preseason favorite led by BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year Paige Beuckers, who will return after missing last season due to injury. Creighton checks in next, as the Bluejays are set to return four starters. Marquette (3rd), Villanova (4th) and Seton Hall (5th) were slated to finish ahead of the Johnnies.
2023 BIG EAST Coach of the Year Joe Tartamella and his Red Storm will begin the 2023-24 campaign on Nov. 6 when it faces LIU at 7 p.m. inside Carnesecca Arena.
BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll
1 UConn (10) 100
2 Creighton (1) 90
3 Marquette 79
4 Villanova 76
5 Seton Hall 58
6 St. John's 52
7 DePaul 49
8 Butler 37
9 Providence 32
10 Georgetown 20
11 Xavier 12
Preseason Player of the Year
Paige Bueckers, UConn
Preseason Freshman of the Year
KK Arnold, UConn
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Aaliyah Edwards, UConn*
Azzi Fudd, UConn*
Nika Muhl, UConn
Lauren Jensen, Creighton*
Morgan Maly, Creighton*
Emma Ronsiek, Creighton
Anaya Peoples, DePaul
Kelsey Ransom, Georgetown
Jordan King, Marquette*
Lucy Olsen, Villanova*
Honorable Mention
Liza Karlen, Marquette
Unique Drake, St. John's
Azana Baines, Seton Hall
*unanimous selection
The Red Storm were picked sixth in the preseason coaches' poll which is announced prior to the league's annual media day held at Madison Square Garden.
The reigning BIG EAST Sixth-Woman of the Year earns conference recognition after leading all bench players in scoring averaging 8.6 points per game in 2022-23.
The guard made appearances in all 32 games last year but only made a single start at Butler on Dec. 2. She ranked second on the team with 38 3-pointers and shot 37.7 percent from beyond-the-arc.
The Columbia, S.C., native reached double-figures in scoring in 10 out of 32 contests during her senior season. She poured in a season-high 19 points during a pivotal road win at DePaul on Jan. 21.
In the NCAA Tournament First Four, Drake matched a career-high drilling four triples during the 66-64 victory over Purdue, the program's first win in the Big Dance in nine years.
Drake returns a wealth of experience entering her fifth season in Queens. She has appeared in 114 career games for the Red Storm and made 40 total starts.
UConn was the overwhelming preseason favorite led by BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year Paige Beuckers, who will return after missing last season due to injury. Creighton checks in next, as the Bluejays are set to return four starters. Marquette (3rd), Villanova (4th) and Seton Hall (5th) were slated to finish ahead of the Johnnies.
2023 BIG EAST Coach of the Year Joe Tartamella and his Red Storm will begin the 2023-24 campaign on Nov. 6 when it faces LIU at 7 p.m. inside Carnesecca Arena.
BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll
1 UConn (10) 100
2 Creighton (1) 90
3 Marquette 79
4 Villanova 76
5 Seton Hall 58
6 St. John's 52
7 DePaul 49
8 Butler 37
9 Providence 32
10 Georgetown 20
11 Xavier 12
Preseason Player of the Year
Paige Bueckers, UConn
Preseason Freshman of the Year
KK Arnold, UConn
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Aaliyah Edwards, UConn*
Azzi Fudd, UConn*
Nika Muhl, UConn
Lauren Jensen, Creighton*
Morgan Maly, Creighton*
Emma Ronsiek, Creighton
Anaya Peoples, DePaul
Kelsey Ransom, Georgetown
Jordan King, Marquette*
Lucy Olsen, Villanova*
Honorable Mention
Liza Karlen, Marquette
Unique Drake, St. John's
Azana Baines, Seton Hall
*unanimous selection
Players Mentioned
Guard
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