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St. John’s basketball extends historic start against Georgetown

By Michael Szabo

St. John's basketball (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
St. John's basketball (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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St. John’s basketball extends its program best start to the season against Georgetown 

The St. John’s basketball program closed out 2022 with a commanding wire-to-wire victory over Georgetown in the nation’s capital.

The Red Storm (13-0, 4-0 Big East) led 40-17 at halftime and never looked back on their way to earning a 68-48 win. The win continues the Red Storm’s unbeaten start to the season, the best start in the program’s history.

Then-No. 25 St. John’s was led by Jayla Everett with 20 points, four rebounds, and four assists in the game as the St. Louis, Missouri native continues to put together a fantastic season in Queens.

Unique Drake poured in a season-high 18 points in 22 minutes as the senior is averaging 8.9 points per game on 40.7-percent shooting from the field and 36.6-percent shooting from 3-point range.

ALSO READ: St. John’s sunk by another massive run against Marquette

Despite scoring just nine points in the game, Jillian Archer made her presence known in her return to McDonough Arena after spending three seasons with Georgetown with 17 rebounds.

A layup by Archer with 6:13 left in the first half to make the score 23-15 in favor of the Red Storm led to the critical moment in the game as the basket catapulted St. John’s to end the half on a 19-2 run and it would be too much for the Hoyas (8-6, 1-4 Big East) to overcome.

Plenty of credit has to be given to this St. John’s coaching staff for this unbelievable start to this season after the team was picked to finish 7th in the Big East Preseason Poll and is vastly overachieving expectations.

The Johnnies join No. 5 Connecticut (12-2, 5-0 Big East) as the only teams still unbeaten in the conference.

Explaining the St. John’s basketball historic start

St. John’s has much more depth and experience this year than in previous seasons thanks to the transfers of Jayla Everett and Jillian Archer

Both have performed exceptionally and increased the scoring depth of this squad.

Archer has plenty of experience with the rigors of the Big East while Everett has been one of the best players in the ACC.

Ole Miss transfer Mimi Reid has given head coach Joe Tartamella another ball-handling option to set up the Red Storm offense.

The transfers have added experience to the core rotation  who are experienced in collegiate basketball in their own right in the form of Ravyen Pepples, Danielle Cosgrove, and Preseason All-Big East selection Kadaja Bailey.

No. 24 St. John’s will have one of its toughest tests yet facing Seton Hall (11-4, 4-1 Big East) on Wednesday night at Walsh Gymnasium (7:00p.m.)

The Pirates also have aspirations to reach the NCAA Tournament after a run to the WNIT Championship game last season.

St. John’s has lost the last three of four meetings against Seton Hall with its last road win on the against the Pirates coming on January 26, 2020.