St. John’s Catches Fire in Victory Over Memphis, 84-73, to Close Cayman Islands Classic

Red Storm Extend Winning Streak to Six Behind Season-Best Shooting Performance

Georgetown, Grand Cayman — The St. John’s women’s basketball team (7-1, 0-0 BIG EAST) delivered a wire-to-wire masterclass on Saturday night, defeating Memphis (4-5, 0-0 American) 84-73 to cap an undefeated run through the Cayman Islands Classic. Behind a season-best 60.4 percent shooting performance and dominant play from Sa’Mya Wyatt and Brooke Moore, the Johnnies secured their sixth consecutive victory before 313 fans at John Gray Gymnasium.

Offensive Explosion Powers Red Storm

St. John’s torched the nets from the opening tip, converting 11 of their first 12 field goal attempts and never looking back. The Red Storm’s 60.4 percent (32-53) shooting marked their highest efficiency since posting a 60.8 percent clip in the WBIT First Round victory over Florida on March 21, 2024.

The Johnnies’ offensive rhythm was evident throughout, as they dished out 23 assists for the second consecutive game and provided helpers on 80.7 percent of their made field goals during the tournament.

Wyatt, Moore Lead All-Tournament Performers

Sa’Mya Wyatt set a new season-high with 22 points on an efficient 11-of-17 shooting, marking her second straight 20-point performance in the Cayman Islands. The sophomore forward dominated inside, showcasing improved comfort and confidence with each game.

Brooke Moore recorded her second double-double in three games, finishing with 20 points on 6-for-7 shooting and 11 rebounds. The junior transfer has reached the 20-point mark in three consecutive contests, displaying the poise and consistency that have made her invaluable to the Red Storm’s success.

Both Wyatt and Moore earned spots on the Cayman Islands Classic All-Tournament Team for their outstanding performances.

Red Storm News:

• St. John’s Outlasts Georgia Tech in Dramatic Fashion to Open Cayman Islands Classic, 77-75
• St. John’s Senior Captains Riggins and Bower Earn CSC Academic All-District Honors for Excellence On and Off the Pitch
• St. John’s Women’s Basketball Dominates Central Connecticut State 71-46; Red Storm Rolls to Fourth Straight Victory

Wagner Makes History with Assist Record

Shaulana Wagner orchestrated the offense with surgical precision, dishing out 13 assists to set a new St. John’s single-game record since 2011. The senior point guard became the 22nd active NCAA Division I player to reach 400 career assists, cementing her legacy as one of the program’s all-time great facilitators.

Wagner finished with four points and eight turnovers, but controlled the tempo and created countless opportunities for her teammates throughout the 40 minutes.

Waheed, Grant Provide Critical Support

Beautiful Waheed delivered her best performance of the season, recording season-highs of 17 points and nine rebounds. The forward was instrumental in the first quarter, scoring nine points as the Red Storm built its early advantage.

Janeya Grant added 11 points, including three crucial three-pointers, to become the fourth Johnnie in double figures. Her third triple of the night gave St. John’s a commanding 79-62 lead with three minutes remaining, effectively sealing the victory.

Game Flow: Dominant Start, Steady Finish

The Red Storm struggled with early turnovers, allowing Memphis to build an 8-3 lead at the first media timeout. But Waheed sparked a 20-5 run to close the opening quarter, with St. John’s making nine of their final 10 field goals to shoot 81.8 percent in the frame and take a 23-13 advantage.

St. John’s continued their hot shooting in the second quarter, converting 77.3 percent (17-22) from the field in the opening 20 minutes. Grant’s straightaway triple ballooned the lead to 28-17, and Moore’s buzzer-beating three-pointer sent the Johnnies into halftime with a 44-36 cushion.

Memphis trimmed the deficit in the third quarter, but St. John’s responded with clutch baskets from Wagner, Grant, and Waheed to maintain control. The Red Storm extended their lead to as many as 17 points in the fourth quarter before Memphis mounted a late 9-0 run that ultimately fell short.

Statistical Dominance

St. John’s outrebounded Memphis 38-28 and capitalized on 21 Memphis turnovers, converting them into 14 points. The Red Storm shot 43.8 percent from three-point range (7-16) and 65.0 percent from the free-throw line (13-20).

Memphis shot 43.5 percent overall (30-69), 26.7 percent from beyond the arc (4-15), and 60.0 percent from the charity stripe (9-15). Daejah Richmond led the Tigers with 12 points, while Tamya Smith added 11 and Chaé Harris finished with 13.

Looking Ahead

St. John’s returns to New York to prepare for BIG EAST competition, hosting Creighton on Thursday at 7 p.m. from Carnesecca Arena. With momentum building and confidence soaring, the Red Storm appear poised to make noise in conference play.

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