Editor's Note: The BIG EAST will be previewing both the men's and women's team from each BIG EAST member each weekday from October 22 to November 9 in advance of the 2012-13 season. Use hashtag #BECountdown to join the conversation on Twitter.

St. John's Red Storm Women's Basketball

The Big Picture:
Under the direction of first-year head coach Joe Tartamella, the 2012-13 Red Storm squad returns four starters, seven letterwinners and 79 percent of its scoring from the 2011-12 team that posted a 24-10 overall record and advanced to the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.


 

Who’s Back:
The Red Storm’s senior class is led by point guard Nadirah McKenith, a 2011-12 All-BIG EAST second team selection and three-time Nancy Lieberman Award Watch list honoree, guard Shenneika Smith, a 2011-12 All-BIG EAST first team and BIG EAST All-Tournament team selection and guard Eugeneia McPherson, who emerged during her sophomore year as one of the best sixth-men in the conference and moved up to a starting position in 2011-12. Smith and McKenith were also WBCA All-Region honorees.
 

Who’s Gone:
The Red Storm will lose the talents of forward Da’Shena Stevens, one of the most decorated student-athletes in program history. For her career, Stevens totaled 1,515 points, 815 rebounds and landed herself in six of St. John’s top-five records listings. Stevens was a two-time WBCA All-Region selection and three-time all-BIG EAST honoree as well as the 2009 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year and 2012 BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award winner.


 

Storylines:
Nadirah McKenith, Shenneika Smith and Eugeneia McPherson were the Red Storm’s top three scorers in 2011-12, averaging 12.1 points per game and 35.4 points per game collectively. Smith, also named the 2012 All-Metropolitan Basketball Writers’ Association Player of the Year, led the way with 12.5 points, 6.4 rebounds per game. Also returning is Amber Thompson, a 2012 BIG EAST All-Rookie selection, and Mary Nwachukwu at the post position.