By J.J. Pavlick | Mohegan Sun Arena | March 6, 2026
No. 6 seed St. John’s weathered the storm and overcame a six-point fourth quarter deficit to secure a 53-48 win over No. 11 seed Xavier Friday night, wrapping up opening round action at the 2026 BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Tournament Presented by Jeep. The Red Storm’s victory was a testament to their resilience, outscoring Xavier 18-7 in the final frame to erase what had been Xavier’s largest lead of the night. Xavier’s valiant effort, meanwhile, encapsulated a season defined by perseverance and unity.
Fourth-Quarter Surge Lifts Red Storm
After trailing by as many as six and entering the final period down 41-35, St. John’s dug deep, outscoring Xavier 18-7 in the last ten minutes to complete the comeback. Junior guard Brooke Moore scored 10 of her co-game-high 16 points in the fourth quarter to lead the surge, including a crucial three-pointer. Sophomore forward Sa’Mya Wyatt also finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds, delivering a pivotal offensive rebound and putback with 33 seconds left to secure the win for the Red Storm.
March basketball is defined by its intensity and unpredictability, where every possession is magnified, and past records fade into the background. At halftime, Head Coach Joe Tartamella delivered a direct and empowering message to his team, reminding them that tournament basketball is decided by composure and belief in their identity.
He challenged the Red Storm to “do the things we’re good at” and to reset their rhythm for the second half: “You’ve got 20 minutes to fix it. Start the third quarter strong and play the way we want to play.” While the offense remained sluggish into the third, his insistence on trusting their preparation and sticking together ultimately fueled the fourth-quarter surge that defined the comeback. As Tartamella said, “Seeds really don’t matter. You’re playing a team for the third time, everyone knows each other’s tendencies… You have to be able to gut it out.”
St. John’s guard Brooke Moore (10) puts up a jumper over UConn’s Kayleigh Heckel (9) despite tight defense. Moore was held to just one field goal and seven total points in the game. Mandatory Credit: Bad Dawg Sports/Cassandra Casiero
Wyatt credited her teammates and coaches for trusting her in the clutch: “I just felt the moment—crashing the boards is something we work on all the time. My teammates had the confidence to put me in a position to help us win.”
Early Runs and Xavier’s Growth on Display
Xavier rebounded from an early St. John’s punch, as a 3-pointer put the Red Storm up 5–1, by ripping off a 10–0 run to seize an 11–5 advantage, capitalizing on St. John’s ball-handling struggles. As Xavier steadily built its lead into the fourth quarter, the win probability monitors favored the Musketeers by as much as 75% with eight minutes remaining, underscoring just how unexpected the Red Storm’s rally would be. The Musketeers maintained a slight edge through an energetic and back-and-forth first half, leading 27-26 at the break behind sophomore guard MacKenzie Givens’ 10 first-half points. Senior guard Savannah White paced Xavier overall with 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Mariyah Noel and Givens each contributed 10 points on the night.
Coach Billi Chambers, though disappointed by the outcome, expressed immense pride in her squad. Reflecting on the team’s journey from their midseason struggles and a string of narrow losses,
Chambers underscored how far her players have come: “Really proud of our fight, really proud of our young women for just sticking to it, sticking to each other, trying to pour into each other down the stretch when shots weren’t falling our way. There’s so much growth in this group, so much fight.”
White reflected on Xavier’s journey: “We fought all season. It was hard, especially with all those transfers, but we showed how much we care for each other and pushed through adversity.”
Statistical Snapshot
The numbers told the story of a hard-fought, low-scoring affair. Both teams struggled from long range—Xavier shot just 19% (5-26) from deep, while St. John’s managed 28% (5-18)—but made up for it with gritty play inside and on the glass. Both teams were nearly even from the field (Xavier 21-of-63, St. John’s 20-of-55), but the Red Storm’s 80% free throw shooting (8-10) proved decisive compared to Xavier’s 1-for-2 showing. St. John’s also held a 15–6 advantage in bench scoring, a key factor down the stretch.
Turnovers were even at 13 apiece, but St. John’s capitalized with 10 points off Xavier miscues. Xavier’s bench was held to just 6 points, while St. John’s reserves contributed 15, underscoring the Red Storm’s depth.
Key Moments and Turning Points
Xavier opened the third quarter with a 5-0 run to match their largest lead at 32-26, extending the margin to six on five occasions before St. John’s began its game-winning rally.
With 2:13 remaining, Xavier’s Audia Young hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to two (48-50), but the Musketeers would not score again.
Wyatt’s offensive rebound and putback with 33 seconds left extended the Red Storm’s lead to four, and her free throw with three seconds left put the game out of reach.
The game featured four lead changes and three ties, emblematic of the razor-thin margin between the teams.
Looking Ahead
St. John’s advances to face Seton Hall, with Coach Tartamella emphasizing the need for recovery and tactical preparation: “No one’s tired this time of year—you’re not allowed to be. We need to play our style and maintain our energy.”
For Tartamella, the run through the postseason also carries personal significance. Having his family—including his children—present at Mohegan Sun Arena has been a source of joy and grounding throughout the tournament. Tartamella spoke warmly about his kids attending games, sharing how their presence adds perspective and meaning to the grind of March. His young children, who have grown up around basketball, often give their own postgame analysis and keep the experience lighthearted. Having his family in the stands, Tartamella said, reminds him of what truly matters and has helped him create lasting memories alongside the pursuit of a championship.
For Xavier, the loss marks the end of a season defined by overcoming adversity—losing key players to injury, integrating transfers, and building a foundation. Coach Chambers summed up the program’s outlook: “We want to see more wins, but we understand our process. There’s so much to be proud of in this group.”
Final Score:St. John’s (NY) 53 – 48 Xavier
St. John’s advances to face Seton Hall. Xavier’s season ends with pride and hope for the future.
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That’s March basketball in a nutshell: ugly, tense, and decided by who can keep their nerve when the game turns into a fistfight. St. John’s didn’t have its cleanest night, but it had its identity when it mattered — a fourth-quarter surge, Brooke Moore delivering in the biggest minutes, and Sa’Mya Wyatt owning the glass for the possession that sealed it. Xavier had them on the ropes, and for most of the night it looked like the Musketeers were going to finish the story — but the Red Storm refused to fold. Want every boom and echo? Don’t miss our upcoming coverage — where we break down every ripple, every shockwave, and what it means for the tournament ahead.
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