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BIG EAST Conference preview: Title runs through either Marquette or DePaul

By Erica Ayala

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 14: Commissioner Val Ackerman addresses the media during the Big East Men's & Women's Basketball Media Day at Madison Square Garden on October 14, 2015 in New York, New York. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 14: Commissioner Val Ackerman addresses the media during the Big East Men's & Women's Basketball Media Day at Madison Square Garden on October 14, 2015 in New York, New York. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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Reigning Freshman of the Year and incoming Preseason Freshman of the Year set to lead Red Storm

CHICAGO, IL – MARCH 04: St. John’s Red Storm guard forward Akina Wellere (20) with teammates during the game against the Creighton Bluejays on March 4, 2018 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – MARCH 04: St. John’s Red Storm guard forward Akina Wellere (20) with teammates during the game against the Creighton Bluejays on March 4, 2018 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Red Storm are getting attention for their 2018 BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year Kadaja Bailey. The Long Beach, NY native has been on coach Joe Tartamella’s radar for some time. Now that she is at St. John’s, he and his staff are eager to refiner her natural talent for the next level.

“She brings offensive talent, great support and fits in well with the players we have,” coach told the media during BIG EAST Media Day at Madison Square Garden last month. “We are expecting a lot of her. She’s been a great addition and we are excited to see what she can do.”

The Red Storm reached the Quarterfinals of the WNIT last season where they fell to West Virgina 76-62.  Can the Red Storm make waves with the reigning Freshman of the Year and the early favorite to win the award?

2017-18 Record: 9-9 in BIG EAST; 19-15 Overall; Tied for Fifth

2018-19 Preseason Poll: Sixth Place

Key Returners:

Akina Wellere enters her final season with the Red Storm, both she and sophomore Qadashah Hoppie averaged over 10 points per game for St. John’s last season. Hoppie led all BIG EAST Freshman in scoring (10.1 PPG) and took home the first BIG EAST Freshman of the Year awards for St. John’s since DA’Shena Stevens (2008-2009).

Games to Watch:

Opening Game: St. John’s at Iona – Friday, November 9 at TBD

St. John’s vs. Connecticut(2) – Friday, November 23 at 7:30 pm (Paradise Jam)

BIG EAST Opener: St. John’s at Seton Hall – Sunday, December 30 1:00 p.m BEDN

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