In the paint

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.

BY MARCUS HENRY

You can't ask for a better start. The St. John's women put together a respectable showing on the road against an excellent Rutgers team. In fact, it was a five-point game with a minute to go. The Red Storm (10-5, 1-1 Big East) followed that up with a 63-51 win over South Florida in their conference home opener Tuesday.

There were several positive points coach Kim Barnes Arico could take from both games, particularly the play of Coco Hart and Joy McCorvey. Hart (18) and McCorvey totaled 28 rebounds in Tuesday's win over USF (10-5, 0-2). Hart was especially as effective as nine of her rebounds came on the offensive end. Her total was the most by a St. John's player since 1991.

"I knew she had nine rebounds at the half but didn't know until after the game that she finished with 18. She has been getting better and better and getting more minutes. She is only a freshman but she brings energy, intensity and keeps balls alive for us and that has been something that we were missing," Barnes Arico said in her post-game press conference.

Offensively, the Red Storm got production from the usual suspects. Monique McLean had 19 points, Sky Lindsay had 14 and Kia Wright added 12. Wright shot just 2-for-12 from the field, but she drained six free throws over the final 2:17. Once Wright gets to 100 percent, the team could get on a nice roll. It was Lindsay's third straight double-figure scoring game.

Defensively, the Storm was on their game, limiting the Bulls to 30 percent shooting. Tiina Sten tied a career-high with four blocks.

The strong start notwithstanding, nothing is etched in stone for the Red Storm, who have a rough stretch ahead of them with games against DePaul, West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Syracuse. All four teams are either ranked or have votes in the AP top 25 poll.

BY JOSEPH STASZEWSKI

From awful Morgan State at home to No. 6 Rutgers at the RAC.

Good Luck.

The St. John’s women's basketball game had a cushy 97-56 win against Morgan State at Carnesecca Arena last Sunday. It may be the last time the team is that comfortable for the rest of the season.

Rutgers awaits them in its Big East opener Saturday at 8 p.m.

“I've been warning them, that Baylor was a little bit of a test,” coach Kim Barnes Arico said. “Baylor put pressure on our offense and forced us into a lot of turnovers. Rutgers is one of the best, if not the best defensive team in the country. How are we going to respond to that?”

Well, lets look at some history.

The Red Storm is 1-1 against ranked opponents this season. They beat then-No. 24 ranked NC State, 60-55, but were rolled over by then-No. 11 Baylor 80-59.

No.6 Rutgers lost to Tennessee in the national final last year and so far this season has beaten LSU and California and lost by five to No. 12 Duke in Durham.

Answer: This one could be ugly.

Forward Kia Vaughn will again pose problems for St. John’s. The Red Storm has not had a legitimate inside presence since Danielle Chamber graduated and Angela Clark left for personal reasons. Tiina Sten, Joy McCorvey and Recee Mitchell will struggle. Vaughn is averaging 8.8 points per game and 8.4 rebounds.

St. John’s has a excellent front court in Kia Wright, Monique McLean and Sky Lindsay. Rutgers is a bit better. The Scarlet Knight boost senior New Jersey products, Essence Carson and Mantee Ajavon and former Murry Bergtraum star, Epiphanny Prince.

Rutgers has dominated St. John’s over the team’s 32 meetings.

Rutgers 29

St. John’s 3

A win would be a historical one, arguably the best in program history, but the outcome is likely to be more pain at the RAC.

BY JOSEPH STASZEWSKI

Slam Magazine ranked both of the St. John’s womens basketball team’s two 2008 recruits in it’s Top 100 Class of 2008. Da'Shena Stevens is ranked No. 65, and Britney Murphy is No. 84. Five other Big East squads and 25 teams overall have multiple players ranked the top 84.

Da'Shena Stevens, 6-1, F
Trinity Catholic, Conn.

Last season she averaged 22.1 points, 15.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.2 steals. She is also 280 points shy of scoring 2,000 for her career and was named first team All-State last year.

Britney Murphy, 5-5, G
Arthur Hill High, Mich.

Last season she averaged 15.3 points, 8.7 assists and was an 80 percent free throw shooter. The three-year starter and four-year varsity player is preseason honorable mention All-American by Street & Smith's and is a McDonald's All-America nominee.

BY MARCUS HENRY

The St. John's women are still a good distance from making any national statements. The Red Storm's 81-58 loss to Baylor on Saturday should give you all the proof you need. To be fair, the game wasn't as lopsided as the score indicated. The Red Storm (8-4) put up a good fight, but the Bears (9-1) were always able to keep them at arm's length. St. John's never trailed by more than 15 in the first half and were within 10 to 13 points for three quarters of the second half. Baylor put the game away with a 7-0 spurt for a 68-50 lead with 5:12 left.

There were several positives coach Kim Barnes Arico could take from the game. One is the similiarities between Baylor and Big East heavyweights Rutgers and UConn. Baylor has a quality post player in former St. John the Baptist All-American Danielle Wilson. UConn has one in former Christ the King star Tina Charles. Rutgers also totes a great post presence in former St. Michael standout Kia Vaughn. Hopefully the Red Storm's experience against Baylor taught them a valuable lesson.

Another positive was the play of sophomore forward Recee Mitchell. Mitchell played just 18 minutes, but had three points and five rebounds. Mitchell brings to mind former Red Storm forward Danielle Chambers. With junior forward Angel Tate's departure from the team a few weeks ago, Mitchell is be counted on to provide quality minutes in the paint.

Saturday's loss was also a learning experience for freshman guard Sky Lindsay. Barnes Arico was critical of Linday's shot selection and also wants her prized freshman recruit to know that the physical nature of the Baylor game will be the same in the Big East. Hopefully Linday will adjust.

By MARCUS HENRY

St. John's suffered a minor setback in its 64-62 loss at Hartford on Friday. Three players scored in double figures, including Monique McLean with 17 points and 11 rebounds. But that isn't the most pressing matter for the Red Storm, who had their winning streak stopped at four.

Big news hit the Red Storm campus when Mary Louis standout Amanda Burakoski gave them a verbal commitment. The 6-foot junior averaged over 20 points per game last year and helped lead the Hilltoppers to the New York State Federation Class A title last season. Coach Kim Barnes Arico is setting a strong recruiting base and clearly has an eye for talent. Check out freshman guard Sky Lindsay and junior guard Monique McLean.

Lindsay has great potential and McLean is likely on her way to All-Big East honors.

BY MARCUS HENRY

One thing is evident about the 2007-2008 St. John's women's team; they can score. And they can do it in bunches. The halftime score of the Storm's matchup against UMass last night was 51-38, in favor of St. John's. Monique McLean had 18 and freshman sensation Sky Lindsay had 14. Mind you Kia Wright scored just two points on 1-for-2 shooting. The game ended in a route as the Red Storm took care of the Minutemen with relative ease, 84-68. McLean finished with 22 and Lindsay had 16.

With most of the other metro area teams struggling, there is no denying the Red Storm women might have the best shot at an NCAA bid. The Hofstra men and women's teams had two wins between them through Monday. The Stony Brook men and women had four wins between them through Monday. The St. John's men are 4-1, but they haven't played anyone of significance. The Iona, Manhattan and Fordham men and women's teams are nothing to write home about.

Now 6-1, the Red Storm have a chance to head into Big East play with 10 or 11 wins. The Storm's next four games feature matchups against Hartford, Maine, Louisiana Monroe and UAB or Delaware State. If the Storm can get through that stretch of winnable games, they'll host Baylor on December 22 in a game that could draw national eyes. After that it's another home game against Morgan State. Following that the Red Storm head to Rutgers for their Big East opener.

For the Red Storm to have a shot in that game, Wright must be close to 100 percent. If she is, it could be 2005-2006 all over again for the Red Storm. And that means 20-plus wins and an NCAA Tournament bid.

BY MARCUS HENRY

It was another strong effort by the St. John's women's team in their 76-69 win over Boston University. Kia Wright had her most productive game of the season, scoring 13 points in 17 minutes. Monique McLean had another strong game with 21 points and five rebounds. What was most impressive about the win was the play of star freshman Sky Lindsay. Lindsay scored 13 on 5-for-12 shooting.

If Wright gets close to 100 percent and Lindsay continues to improve, the Red Storm (5-1) could be on their way to another 20-win season and an NCAA Tournament appearance. Yes, I know that is looking too far down the road, but this team has depth, a strong perimeter presence and solid rebounders.

BY MARCUS HENRY

No Kia Wright? No problem, for now. The Red Storm got off to a good start without Kia Wright in their 72-58 win at Army. Monique McLean picked up where she left off last season with 21 points. More importantly, newcomers McManmon (13 points) and Kristin Moore (11) got in on the act in the win.

Freshman Sky Lindsay scored 7 points and added four assists in the win. Recee Mitchell had nine points and Angel Tate had eight points.

You're probably asking the significance of all of this. Last year the Red Storm dressed seven players most nights for the first six week of the season. Against Army, Mitchell, Tate and Moore all came off the bench. If the Red Storm can get solid production from the bench on a consistent basis, they have a chance to get back to where they were in 2005-2006 when they went 22-8 and earned a NCAA at-large bid.

In the Red Storm's 83-74 win over the Traveling All Star's, McLean had 21 and Sky led the team with 22 points (8-for-16 shooting) off the bench.

Wright's absence the first couple of weeks of the season will allow Lindsay, Moore and McManmon to gain the experience necessary to take on a tough Big East schedule.

It's early, but things are beginning to heat up for the Storm. Yeah, I know that was an awful pun. Deal with it!