St. John’s Rolls Past DePaul to Ring in 2026, 75-58

Thursday, January 1

Queens, N.Y. (Carnesecca Arena)

2 p.m.

St. John's University

13-3,3-2Big East

DePaul

3-13,0-5Big East

DePaul

St. John's (NY)

Photo by: Vincent Dusovic

St. John’s Rolls Past DePaul to Ring in 2026, 75-58

1/1/2026 6:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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Red Storm shot 58.3% from the floor on New Year’s Day

QUEENS, N.Y. – The St. John's women's basketball team (12-3, 2-2 BIG EAST) opened 2026 with a 75-58 wire-to-wire victory over DePaul on New Year's Day at Carnesecca Arena.

Four St. John's players finished with 11 points apiece as the Red Storm rolled past the Blue Demons in convincing fashion. The Johnnies were efficient on the offensive end of the floor, shooting 58.3% (28-48) from field goal range and scoring 42 points in the paint.

The Red Storm tied a season-high 12 blocks on Thursday afternoon, matching the program's highest total since it set a program record 16 in a win over Saint Peter's on Dec. 1, 2020. The Johnnies logged 12 rejections earlier this season at Harvard on Nov. 7. Beautiful Waheed and Brooke Moore led the way with four swats apiece. Kylie Lavelle chipped in three rejections in Queens.

Waheed, Sa'Mya Wyatt, Shaulana Wagner, and Daniela Abies all tied for the team-high in scoring, adding 11 points and shooting 50% or better from the floor. Abies matched a season-high in scoring for the second straight and shot 5-for-6 (83.3%) from the field.

DePaul's (3-13, 0-5 BIG EAST) Alayna West led all scorers and three Blue Demons in double figures with 14 points and six boards.

St. John's started the New Year strong, racing out to a 5–0 lead in the opening two minutes. The Johnnies extended their advantage to 9–4 before DePaul responded with a quick scoring run, trimming the margin to one, halfway through the quarter. In the final minute, Wyatt poured in four points in under 30 seconds to push the Red Storm's advantage to 17–11 at the conclusion of the opening frame.

The Red Storm kept the pressure on to open the second quarter, as Jailah Donald and Ariel Little each knocked down 3-pointers within the first three minutes to extend St. John's lead to double-digits, 25–15. DePaul answered with a strong 12–2 run to even the score, 27-27, with two minutes remaining before halftime. St. John's closed the half on a brief surge to regain a four-point edge, heading into the break, 31–27.

St. John's opened the third quarter rattling off 11 straight points to extend its cushion to 15, 42-27. The Red Storm stayed aggressive and stretched the lead to as many as 22, fueled by Abies, who scored eight points in the final two minutes of the third period. The Johnnies outscored the Blue Demons, 26-8, during the third frame to carry a commanding 57-35 advantage into the fourth.

The Blue Demons made a push in the final period, scoring 23 points. St. John's continued to answer offensively and held off DePaul to secure a double-digit home victory, 75–58.

The Red Storm will travel to Hartford, Conn., to face No.1/1 UConn from PeoplesBank Arena on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.