St. John’s basketball defeats Fairleigh Dickinson in delayed season opener

After a delay to the start of its season, the St. John’s basketball program was able to come away with a victory.

Saturday was finally the regular season opener for the St. John’s basketball program and head coach Joe Tartamella and his squad did not disappoint.

After its game on Wednesday against St. Francis College (Brooklyn) was canceled, the Red Storm had to wait a few more days before making the trip across the river to New Jersey to face Fairleigh Dickinson.

The Johnnies were without its unanimous selection to the Preseason All-Big East Team in senior guard Qadashah Hoppie who missed the game due to an injury but its fellow Preseason All-Big East Team selection Leilani Correra helped shoulder the load.

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Correra finished with 16 points, five rebounds, and an assist but it was forward Ravyen Farley who led the way for St. John’s as she showed her former self that was a McDonald’s All-American.

The LSU transfer, who played the last half of the 2019-20 season with the Johnnies, finished with a double-double, 20 points and 11 rebounds.

Farley was 8-of-9 from the field and 4-of-5 from the free throw line.

Junior wing Kadaja Bailey also filled the stat sheet in St. John’s 70-44 victory by flirting with a triple-double, totaling eight points, seven rebounds, six assists, three blocks, and a steal.

Nine of the twelve players that saw the floor for St. John’s were able to score.

St. John’s basketball looks impressive heading into tough stretch of games

Following its win on Saturday, St. John’s will now gear up for a tough slate of games, beginning with St. Peter’s University in Queens on Tuesday afternoon, followed by the start of Big East Conference play.

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After a matchup with the Peacocks, the Red Storm will host Georgetown and Villanova on Friday afternoon and Sunday evening, respectfully.

St. John’s and St. Peter’s will tipoff at 2:00pm EST.