By Marcus Henry
Marcus.henry@newsday.com
Of the six area Division I men’s and women’s basketball teams, just one of them is still playing.
The St. John’s women’s team, making its third post season appearance in four years, topped Iona, 65-59 in a WNIT second-round game at Carnesecca Arena. The Red Storm advances to the third round on Thursday, where they will host Boston College at 7:00 p.m. at Carnesseca Arena.
St. John’s can take a lot from its latest post season game. First and foremost, the Red Storm are still playing. There isn't a team in the area that doesn't wish it were still playing. Seniors Kia Wright and Tiina Sten have earned themselves a chance to play at least one more game. The win had to be especially fitting for Wright, who made the decision to come back for a fifth season, because she didn't want to leave the program on a sour note.
The Red Storm, although probably wishing they were playing in the NCAA Tournament, can take solace in the fact that they have established themselves as a viable Division I program. St. John’s is 67-53 over the last four seasons, including consecutive 20-plus win seasons. Not bad for a team that prior to coach Kim Barnes Arico’s arrival in 2002-03, had seven straight losing seasons.
The highlight of Barnes Arico’s tenure came in 2005-06, when the Red Storm finished with a 22-8 record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
For all the talk of Antoine Agudio and the Hofstra men’s team and the plight of St. John’s men’s coach Norm Roberts, the Red Storm women are the only squad who can claim a recent NCAA berth.