Dec. 31, 2011

Box Score | Box Score PDF |  Quotes |  Notes | VIDEO: Postgame Interviews & Highlights

QUEENS, N.Y. - Finally playing with a roster full of healthy players, the St. John's women's basketball team used 54.7 percent shooting to sail past Boston University, 75-38, ending the 2011 calendar year on a high note at Carnesecca Arena.

The game marked the return of point guard Nadirah McKenith, as she and senior forward Da'Shena Stevens made their first start together this season, leading the Red Storm to its first 30-point victory of the year, and last since Dec. 18, 2010 versus Southern Mississippi.

McKenith had sat out the last three games due to a knee injury suffered during the Dec. 11 game vs. Baylor at the Maggie Dixon Classic. Stevens made her return to the hard wood after rehabbing an offseason knee injury on Dec. 17, but had not yet started for the Red Storm.

"It was really great for the first time all year to have our team together and you got a glimpse of what we're capable of doing," remarked head coach Kim Barnes Arico. "We played with great intensity. Boston University is always a real quality program and they play incredibly hard. We came out and just played tough defense and I was really proud of our effort."

The Red Storm had a well-rounded scoring effort, led by juniors Eugeneia McPherson and Shenneika Smith with 15 points each. McPherson's 15 points came off 6-of-8 shooting from the field, 2-for-4 from the foul line and 1-for-2 from beyond the arc. McPherson has scored in the double-figures in the last nine games for St. John's. She also marked a career-best six steals.

McPherson and Smith were helped by a career-best 11 points from sophomore Mary Nwachukwu and 10 from rookie Amber Thompson, who finished one rebound shy of her fourth double-double of the season. Thompson's nine boards were a team-best for the game. McKenith was a close second with eight rebounds, Nwachukwu finished with six.

The Boston Terriers (7-6) finished their three-day, three-game road swing with the loss against the Red Storm; while St. John's (8-6) has won its last seven-consecutive games on its home court.

Boston University was led by Chantell Alford who finished with 12 point and shot 2-for-3 from beyond the arc.

The Red Storm held the Terriers to just 14 points in the first half on five field goals and 19.2 percent shoooting. It was the second time this season St. John's held an opponent to 14 in the first half, the last was against LaSalle (Nov. 16). St. John's led 41-14, the largest first-half margin of the season. St. John's also shot 61.5 percent in the first half (16-for-26). It was the third time this season the Red Storm shot more than 60 percent in a half. St. John's held Boston to 28.8 percent shooting for the game.

Similar to last season's game at Boston University, St. John's got out to an early lead. Sparked by jumper in the paint from McPherson, the Red Storm went on a 22-3 run that created a 29-9 St. John's led with 7:05 left in the first period. The run was stopped by a long three from Alford.

With 3:02 left in the opening stanza, St. John's had tripled Boston's score, 36-12, as McPherson rolled in a layup off a fast break and stolen ball.

The Red Storm led by 28 points with just over a minute left in the half, 41-12, before a jumper from Rashidat Agboola with 53 seconds left gave the Terriers 14 points. At the end of the half, McPherson alone had 12 points.

Coming in off the break, Smith scored the first two buckets of the second period.

The Red Storm continued to build on its lead, as the closest Boston would come was within 28 points, 47-19, after a put-back jump shot from Agboola at 17:14. Agboola finished with eight points, 11 boards.

With 4:34 left to play, another jumper from Smith would put St. John's up 35, 67-32.

In the final four minutes, sophomore Briana Brown sunk her second 3-pointer in as many games as she put the Red Storm up 36 points, 70-34. After a layup from Alford, St. John's answered with one by Jennifer Blanding. Blanding made a free throw and another layup in the last two minutes to extend the Red Storm's lead to 39, 75-36, but Agboola cut the lead to 37, 75-38, with a final layup.

It was the second time this season St. John's scored more than 70 points. St. John's is 2-0 when scoring in the 70's. It was also the third game where the Red Storm shot greater than 50 percent from the floor.

The Red Storm will hopefully carry the New Year's Eve victory over to BIG EAST play, as St. John's welcomes Providence on Wednesday, Jan. 4. The Red Storm and Friars will tip off at 7 p.m. at Carnesecca Arena.