St. John’s Surges in Second Half to Down Xavier, 71-52

Wednesday, February 4

Queens, N.Y. (Carnesecca Arena)

7 p.m.

St. John's University

18-7,8-6Big East

Xavier

11-12,4-10Big East

Xavier

St. John's (NY)

Photo by: Vincent Dusovic

St. John’s Surges in Second Half to Down Xavier, 71-52

2/4/2026 10:41:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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The Red Storm outscored the Musketeers 42-22 over the final 20 minutes

QUEENS, N.Y. – After leading by a point at the break, the St. John's women's basketball team dominated the second half to cruise to a victory over Xavier, 71-52, on National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

The Red Storm outscored the Musketeers 42-22 in the second half to record its 22nd consecutive victory over its conference foe. St. John's (18-7, 8-6 BIG EAST) shot 51.4% from the floor, 44.4% from 3-point range and 90.9% from the line over the final 20 minutes at Carnesecca Arena.

The Johnnies converted 10 steals into 18 points, outscoring the Musketeers, 18-2, in points off turnovers. Offensively, the Red Storm were guided by four players scoring in double-figures.

Beautiful Waheed and Brooke Moore led the way with 14 points apiece. Moore and Jailah Donald each handed out a game-high five assists. Sa'Mya Wyatt chipped in 13 points and pulled down four rebounds. Waheed led all players with four steals, and Donald was the fourth Johnnie to score double-digits, adding 10 points.

Xavier's Mariyah Noel led all players with 20 points and 11 rebounds in Queens.

The Musketeers opened the game on a 9-2 run, but the Johnnies answered with a surge from deep. Back-to-back triples from Kylie Lavelle, followed by another from Donald, trimmed the margin to 13-11. Xavier continued to apply pressure, extending its lead to 17-11 with two minutes remaining in the first quarter. A layup by Moore and a free throw from Wyatt pulled the Johnnies within three, 17-14, at the end of the opening frame.

Xavier started the second quarter with seven unanswered points in the first three minutes, stretching its lead to as many as 10, 24-14. Daniela Abies sparked a Red Storm response at the line, knocking down four free throws to ignite the comeback. The Johnnies clawed back from the double-digit deficit in the final seven minutes of the second stanza, fueled by a pair of Janeya Grant triples that lifted the Red Storm to a 29-28 edge at halftime.

St. John's opened the game up in the third frame with a 9-2 run over the first four minutes, fueled by Waheed's five points to build a 38-23 lead. Back-to-back baskets from Moore and another last-second three by Donald closed out the quarter, sending the Red Storm into the break ahead 45-36. The Johnnies held the Musketeers to just six points on 3-of-15 (20%) in the third period.

The Red Storm continued its momentum from the third into the final stanza, extending their lead by as much as 21 points to close off the game. The Red Storm exploded for 26 points in the final frame to capture its second straight victory.

The Red Storm will remain at home to host Seton Hall for NGWSD and Play 4 Kay Pink Game at 2 p.m. in Queens. A pre-game NGWSD Youth Clinic will be held at 12 p.m. in Taffner Fieldhouse. Fans can click here to register today.

To continue to celebrate the contributions of girls and women in sports, make sure to buy tickets to St. John's first-ever standalone women's basketball game at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Mar. 1, against UConn. Purchase tickets here.