St. John's University Athletics
Tuesday, January 9
Cincinnati, Ohio (Cintas Center)
7 p.m.
St. John's University
at
Xavier
St. John’s Carries Momentum into Tuesday Night Contest at Xavier
1/8/2024 5:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Red Storm have won five of its last six contests and are off to a 3-1 start in BIG EAST play
QUEENS, N.Y.– The St. John's women's basketball team will carry the momentum of winning five of its last six contests into a Tuesday night meeting at Xavier.
Tuesday's contest will tip-off at 7 p.m. ET and will be streamed on the BIG EAST Digital Network on FloSports. Mike Schmaltz and Paul Fristchner will have the call from Cincinnati.
The Red Storm are off to a 3-1 start in BIG EAST play after downing No. 19/20 Marquette, 57-56, at home and earning a road win at Providence, 55-48.
The Johnnies trailed by eight late in the third quarter in both those contests and clawed back in the final frame. In its four league games, St. John's is outscoring its opponents, 66-39, in the fourth quarter.
The Red Storm defense was stellar during its pair of wins last week forcing 46 turnovers, 22 steals, 11 blocks and allowing just 52.0 points per game.
Unique Drake was named BIG EAST Player of the Week on Monday for the second time this season. She becomes the first St. John's player since the program's all-time leading scorer Aliyyah Handford in 2015-16 to earn the conference honor twice in a single-season. The redshirt senior tallied a pair of 24 points performances in the wins over the Golden Eagles and Friars.
Drake averaged 24.0 points per game shooting 52.6 percent (20-38) from the field and 45.4 percent (5-11) from 3-point range. The guard led all scorers in both games and has done so in 14 of St. John's 16 contests.
The reigning BIG EAST Sixth-Woman of the Year has taken an enormous jump this season is skyrocketing up the national leaderboards. Drake ranks 18th in points per game (20.3), sixth in total points scored (324), seventh in made field goals (121), 11th in made 3-pointers (45) and 33rd in 3-point percentage (42.6).
Jillian Archer played strong defensively last week matching her career-high of four blocks in both games. The graduate student forward is now up to 1.5 blocks per game, which ranks fourth in the BIG EAST.
St. John's will look to extend its 16-game winning streak against Xavier, dating back to March 1, 2015. The Red Storm took the season series last year averaging a margin of victory of 20.0 points per game in the two wins. On Feb 8, 2023 during the Johnnies last visit to the Cintas Center, Head Coach Joe Tartamella captured his 200th career victory in a 73-52 triumph over the Musketeers.
Xavier returns home after falling at No. 19/20 Marquette, 81-52, on Saturday afternoon. The Musketeers fell to 1-11 on the year and 0-3 in conference competition. Forward Nila Blackford ranks second in the league in rebounding averaging 8.8 boards per game.
Tartamella and first-year Xavier Head Coach Billi Chambers will square off for the fourth time. Chambers faced the Johnnies three times during her 10-year stint at Iona, St. John's won all three contests.
Following the conclusion of two road games in four days, the Red Storm will return to New York to face No. 13/15 UConn at UBS Arena on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. on SNY.
Tuesday's contest will tip-off at 7 p.m. ET and will be streamed on the BIG EAST Digital Network on FloSports. Mike Schmaltz and Paul Fristchner will have the call from Cincinnati.
The Red Storm are off to a 3-1 start in BIG EAST play after downing No. 19/20 Marquette, 57-56, at home and earning a road win at Providence, 55-48.
The Johnnies trailed by eight late in the third quarter in both those contests and clawed back in the final frame. In its four league games, St. John's is outscoring its opponents, 66-39, in the fourth quarter.
The Red Storm defense was stellar during its pair of wins last week forcing 46 turnovers, 22 steals, 11 blocks and allowing just 52.0 points per game.
Unique Drake was named BIG EAST Player of the Week on Monday for the second time this season. She becomes the first St. John's player since the program's all-time leading scorer Aliyyah Handford in 2015-16 to earn the conference honor twice in a single-season. The redshirt senior tallied a pair of 24 points performances in the wins over the Golden Eagles and Friars.
Drake averaged 24.0 points per game shooting 52.6 percent (20-38) from the field and 45.4 percent (5-11) from 3-point range. The guard led all scorers in both games and has done so in 14 of St. John's 16 contests.
The reigning BIG EAST Sixth-Woman of the Year has taken an enormous jump this season is skyrocketing up the national leaderboards. Drake ranks 18th in points per game (20.3), sixth in total points scored (324), seventh in made field goals (121), 11th in made 3-pointers (45) and 33rd in 3-point percentage (42.6).
Jillian Archer played strong defensively last week matching her career-high of four blocks in both games. The graduate student forward is now up to 1.5 blocks per game, which ranks fourth in the BIG EAST.
St. John's will look to extend its 16-game winning streak against Xavier, dating back to March 1, 2015. The Red Storm took the season series last year averaging a margin of victory of 20.0 points per game in the two wins. On Feb 8, 2023 during the Johnnies last visit to the Cintas Center, Head Coach Joe Tartamella captured his 200th career victory in a 73-52 triumph over the Musketeers.
Xavier returns home after falling at No. 19/20 Marquette, 81-52, on Saturday afternoon. The Musketeers fell to 1-11 on the year and 0-3 in conference competition. Forward Nila Blackford ranks second in the league in rebounding averaging 8.8 boards per game.
Tartamella and first-year Xavier Head Coach Billi Chambers will square off for the fourth time. Chambers faced the Johnnies three times during her 10-year stint at Iona, St. John's won all three contests.
Following the conclusion of two road games in four days, the Red Storm will return to New York to face No. 13/15 UConn at UBS Arena on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. on SNY.
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's BasketballSt. John's WBB Game 1 Postgame Press Conference 3.7.25
Friday, March 07
Postgame Press Conference St. John's WBB vs Georgetown 2.26.2025
Wednesday, February 26
Post Game Press Conference St. John's WBB vs Butler 2.16.2024
Sunday, February 16
Postgame Press Conference St. John's WBB vs Xavier 2.2.25
Sunday, February 02