St. John’s basketball: Women’s team releases non-conference schedule

The women’s team of the St. John’s basketball program has released its non-conference schedule. 

It is less than three months until the St. John’s basketball program tips-off its season and the women’s program has released its non-conference schedule.

The Lady Johnnies are coming off of a disappointing 2020-21 season in which the team was ravished by injuries and hurt by a pause caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Head coach Joe Tartamella saw his team go 8-15 (4-12 Big East) and miss the postseason for the third consecutive season, although there was no postseason in the 2019-20 season due the pandemic.

St. John’s sees the return of All-Big East caliber guard Leilani Correa while Qadashah Hoppie, who missed the majority of last season with an injury, opted to use her free year of eligibility at Texas A&M.

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The Johnnies also return several key players from the last two seasons in Kadaja Bailey and Unique Drake.

St. John’s begins its season on November 10 at home against Fairleigh Dickinson as the full non-conference schedule is as follows:

• November 10 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson
• November 14 at. Stony Brook
• November 17 at. Temple
• November 21 vs. Yale
• November 26 vs. Penn State (Gulf Coast Showdown)
• November 27 vs. TBA (Iowa State/Charlotte) [Gulf Coast Showdown]
• November 28 vs. TBA (South Dakota State/UMass/UCLA/Kent State) [Gulf Coast Showdown]
• December 8 vs. Iona
• December 11 vs. La Salle 
• December 12 at. Wagner

St. John’s basketball hoping new faces can help program return to prominence

In addition to leaning on returning players such as Leilani Correa, Unique Drake, and Kadaja Bailey, St. John’s will hope that incoming graduate transfer Danielle Patterson can bring a strong presence to the front-court.

Patterson, a Brooklyn, New York native, has played at Notre Dame and Indiana during her college career and was a McDonald’s All-American prior to her collegiate days.

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St. John’s has struggled in the paint over the last three years and Patterson, standing at 6-foot-2, should help the Johnnies space the floor on offense while cleaning up the glass on defense.

The Red Storm also landed Notre Dame transfer Danielle Cosgrove who will add in bolstering the paint as she stands at 6-foot-4.

Joe Tartamella brings three freshmen to Queens this year in Katie Burton, Idan Shlush, and Sitota Gines.