St. John's University Athletics
Unique Drake Unanimously Selected to All-BIG EAST First Team, Jillian Archer Earns Honorable Mention
3/7/2024 11:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Drake and Archer recognized by conference ahead of the BIG EAST Tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena
NEW YORK – Unique Drake was named a unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selection and Jillian Archer was earned an honorable mention nod.
The conference office announced its regular season awards on Thursday morning ahead of the BIG EAST Women's Basketball Tournament, presented by JEEP. Thursday's announcement marks the fourth-straight season St. John's has landed a player on the league's first team.
After winning the BIG EAST Sixth-Woman of the Year award in 2022-23, Drake took on a role as the team's primary offensive catalyst and thrived during her final season of college basketball. The redshirt senior went for 18.0 points per game, which ranks third in the BIG EAST.
The Columbia, S.C., native filled it up this year posting 25 double-figures scoring outings, 12 20-plus point games and three 30-plus point performances. On Jan. 25, the guard recorded one of the most impressive offensive performances in program history, going for 36 points in a double-overtime win at DePaul. It tied for the third-highest scoring total ever in the history of the program and was the most points by a St. John's player since Feb. 1, 1995, when Tawana Jackson poured in 36 against Boston College.
Earlier this season, Drake tied the program record for most 3-pointers in a single-game after flushing seven triples in a 67-47 win over Manhattan. A proven sharpshooter, the veteran has made 70 triples on the year, which is second-most in the BIG EAST and top-40 nationally. She shot 36.5 percent from beyond-the-arc and made 3 or more triples in 10 games this season.
Drake racked up a plethora of awards throughout the campaign as she was recognized by the conference seven times throughout the season. The team captain was twice named BIG EAST Player of the Week and was tabbed to the honor roll five times. She became the first St. John's player in eight years to be tabbed as the Metropolitan Basketball Writers' Association Player of the Week. Last week, Drake was selected for the Women's College All-Star Game Watch List among the top senior players in the country.
As her fifth season with the program draws to a close, Drake has stamped her spot in the record book, ranking second all-time in career games played (144) and seventh in career free-throw percentage (78.5%). The Red Storm guard also etched her name in the program's single-season history with 70 3-point field goals made (4th), 83.0 percent from the charity stripe (7th) and 539 points scored (12th). She currently ranks 12th on the all-time scoring list and became the 29th player in program history to eclipse the 1,000-career point mark on Dec. 2 against Marist.
Archer earns conference honors for the first time as one of four players recognized as All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention.
The graduate student anchored the post for the Red Storm starting all 30 games. Archer averaged 11.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. The forward is the only BIG EAST player to rank top-20 (19th at 11.2) in scoring, top-10 in rebounding (6th at 7.9), top-three (3rd at 1.6) in blocks and top-three (2nd at 58.6) in field goal percentage.
The Santa Monica, Calif., native has been efficient from the floor this season, shooting 58.6 percent (129-220 FG). The veteran is within striking distance of the program record for highest field-goal percentage in a single-season held by former teammate Rayven Peeples, who shot 59.1 percent from the field during the 2021-22 campaign.
Archer has especially shined during conference competition, logging 8.4 boards and 1.8 blocks over 18 BIG EAST games. She played a pivotal role in leading the Johnnies to a third-place finish and clinching the No. 3 seed in the BIG EAST Tournament.
The team captain finished the campaign on a tear, finishing in double-figures in scoring in 11 of the final 12 games of the regular season.
Archer racked up double-doubles throughout the year and has registered nine on the season, which ranks third-most in the BIG EAST.
The third-seeded Red Storm is set for the BIG EAST Tournament Quarterfinal on Saturday, taking on the winner of sixth-seeded Georgetown and 11th-seeded Xavier.
BIG EAST Player of the Year
Paige Bueckers, UConn, R-Jr., G
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year
Ashlynn Shade, UConn, Fr., G
BIG EAST Coach of the Year
Geno Auriemma, UConn
BIG EAST Co-Defensive Players of the Year
Christina Dalce, Villanova, Jr., F
Kelsey Ransom, Georgetown, Sr., G
BIG EAST Most Improved Player
Lucy Olsen, Villanova, Jr., G
BIG EAST Sixth-Woman Award
Brianna Scott, Georgetown, Jr., F
BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award
Graceann Bennett, Georgetown, Grad., F
All-BIG EAST First Team
Paige Bueckers, UConn, R-Jr., G*
Aaliyah Edwards, UConn, Sr., F*
Lauren Jensen, Creighton, Sr., G*
Morgan Maly, Creighton, Sr., G/F
Emma Ronsiek, Creighton, Sr., F*
Kelsey Ransom, Georgetown, Sr., G
Liza Karlen, Marquette, Sr., F*
Unique Drake, St. John's, R-Sr., G*
Azana Baines, Seton Hall, Grad., G/F
Lucy Olsen, Villanova, Jr., G*
All-BIG EAST Second Team
Caroline Strande, Butler, Sr., G
Nika Mühl, UConn, Sr., G
Anaya Peoples, DePaul, Grad., G
Jordan King, Marquette, Sr., G
Olivia Olsen, Providence, Jr., F
All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention
Ashlynn Shade, UConn, Fr., G
Mackenzie Hare, Marquette, So., G
Jillian Archer, St. John's, Grad., F
Christina Dalce, Villanova, Jr., F
BIG EAST All-Freshman Team^
Riley Makalusky, Butler, Fr., G/F
KK Arnold, UConn, Fr., G*
Ashlynn Shade, UConn, Fr., G*
Savannah Catalon, Seton Hall, Fr., G*
Maddie Webber, Villanova, Fr., G*
Aizhanique Mayo, Xavier, R-Fr., G
The conference office announced its regular season awards on Thursday morning ahead of the BIG EAST Women's Basketball Tournament, presented by JEEP. Thursday's announcement marks the fourth-straight season St. John's has landed a player on the league's first team.
After winning the BIG EAST Sixth-Woman of the Year award in 2022-23, Drake took on a role as the team's primary offensive catalyst and thrived during her final season of college basketball. The redshirt senior went for 18.0 points per game, which ranks third in the BIG EAST.
The Columbia, S.C., native filled it up this year posting 25 double-figures scoring outings, 12 20-plus point games and three 30-plus point performances. On Jan. 25, the guard recorded one of the most impressive offensive performances in program history, going for 36 points in a double-overtime win at DePaul. It tied for the third-highest scoring total ever in the history of the program and was the most points by a St. John's player since Feb. 1, 1995, when Tawana Jackson poured in 36 against Boston College.
Earlier this season, Drake tied the program record for most 3-pointers in a single-game after flushing seven triples in a 67-47 win over Manhattan. A proven sharpshooter, the veteran has made 70 triples on the year, which is second-most in the BIG EAST and top-40 nationally. She shot 36.5 percent from beyond-the-arc and made 3 or more triples in 10 games this season.
Drake racked up a plethora of awards throughout the campaign as she was recognized by the conference seven times throughout the season. The team captain was twice named BIG EAST Player of the Week and was tabbed to the honor roll five times. She became the first St. John's player in eight years to be tabbed as the Metropolitan Basketball Writers' Association Player of the Week. Last week, Drake was selected for the Women's College All-Star Game Watch List among the top senior players in the country.
As her fifth season with the program draws to a close, Drake has stamped her spot in the record book, ranking second all-time in career games played (144) and seventh in career free-throw percentage (78.5%). The Red Storm guard also etched her name in the program's single-season history with 70 3-point field goals made (4th), 83.0 percent from the charity stripe (7th) and 539 points scored (12th). She currently ranks 12th on the all-time scoring list and became the 29th player in program history to eclipse the 1,000-career point mark on Dec. 2 against Marist.
Archer earns conference honors for the first time as one of four players recognized as All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention.
The graduate student anchored the post for the Red Storm starting all 30 games. Archer averaged 11.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. The forward is the only BIG EAST player to rank top-20 (19th at 11.2) in scoring, top-10 in rebounding (6th at 7.9), top-three (3rd at 1.6) in blocks and top-three (2nd at 58.6) in field goal percentage.
The Santa Monica, Calif., native has been efficient from the floor this season, shooting 58.6 percent (129-220 FG). The veteran is within striking distance of the program record for highest field-goal percentage in a single-season held by former teammate Rayven Peeples, who shot 59.1 percent from the field during the 2021-22 campaign.
Archer has especially shined during conference competition, logging 8.4 boards and 1.8 blocks over 18 BIG EAST games. She played a pivotal role in leading the Johnnies to a third-place finish and clinching the No. 3 seed in the BIG EAST Tournament.
The team captain finished the campaign on a tear, finishing in double-figures in scoring in 11 of the final 12 games of the regular season.
Archer racked up double-doubles throughout the year and has registered nine on the season, which ranks third-most in the BIG EAST.
The third-seeded Red Storm is set for the BIG EAST Tournament Quarterfinal on Saturday, taking on the winner of sixth-seeded Georgetown and 11th-seeded Xavier.
BIG EAST Player of the Year
Paige Bueckers, UConn, R-Jr., G
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year
Ashlynn Shade, UConn, Fr., G
BIG EAST Coach of the Year
Geno Auriemma, UConn
BIG EAST Co-Defensive Players of the Year
Christina Dalce, Villanova, Jr., F
Kelsey Ransom, Georgetown, Sr., G
BIG EAST Most Improved Player
Lucy Olsen, Villanova, Jr., G
BIG EAST Sixth-Woman Award
Brianna Scott, Georgetown, Jr., F
BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award
Graceann Bennett, Georgetown, Grad., F
All-BIG EAST First Team
Paige Bueckers, UConn, R-Jr., G*
Aaliyah Edwards, UConn, Sr., F*
Lauren Jensen, Creighton, Sr., G*
Morgan Maly, Creighton, Sr., G/F
Emma Ronsiek, Creighton, Sr., F*
Kelsey Ransom, Georgetown, Sr., G
Liza Karlen, Marquette, Sr., F*
Unique Drake, St. John's, R-Sr., G*
Azana Baines, Seton Hall, Grad., G/F
Lucy Olsen, Villanova, Jr., G*
All-BIG EAST Second Team
Caroline Strande, Butler, Sr., G
Nika Mühl, UConn, Sr., G
Anaya Peoples, DePaul, Grad., G
Jordan King, Marquette, Sr., G
Olivia Olsen, Providence, Jr., F
All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention
Ashlynn Shade, UConn, Fr., G
Mackenzie Hare, Marquette, So., G
Jillian Archer, St. John's, Grad., F
Christina Dalce, Villanova, Jr., F
BIG EAST All-Freshman Team^
Riley Makalusky, Butler, Fr., G/F
KK Arnold, UConn, Fr., G*
Ashlynn Shade, UConn, Fr., G*
Savannah Catalon, Seton Hall, Fr., G*
Maddie Webber, Villanova, Fr., G*
Aizhanique Mayo, Xavier, R-Fr., G
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's BasketballSt. John's WBB vs Creighton Press Conference 12.4.2025
Thursday, December 04
St. John's Women's Basketball vs CCSU Highlights 11.24.25
Monday, November 24
St. John's Women's Basketball vs CCSU Postgame Press Conference 11.24.25
Monday, November 24
St. John's WBB vs Oklahoma State Highlights
Wednesday, November 19