BY MARCUS HENRY
One thing is evident about the 2007-2008 St. John's women's team; they can score. And they can do it in bunches. The halftime score of the Storm's matchup against UMass last night was 51-38, in favor of St. John's. Monique McLean had 18 and freshman sensation Sky Lindsay had 14. Mind you Kia Wright scored just two points on 1-for-2 shooting. The game ended in a route as the Red Storm took care of the Minutemen with relative ease, 84-68. McLean finished with 22 and Lindsay had 16.
With most of the other metro area teams struggling, there is no denying the Red Storm women might have the best shot at an NCAA bid. The Hofstra men and women's teams had two wins between them through Monday. The Stony Brook men and women had four wins between them through Monday. The St. John's men are 4-1, but they haven't played anyone of significance. The Iona, Manhattan and Fordham men and women's teams are nothing to write home about.
Now 6-1, the Red Storm have a chance to head into Big East play with 10 or 11 wins. The Storm's next four games feature matchups against Hartford, Maine, Louisiana Monroe and UAB or Delaware State. If the Storm can get through that stretch of winnable games, they'll host Baylor on December 22 in a game that could draw national eyes. After that it's another home game against Morgan State. Following that the Red Storm head to Rutgers for their Big East opener.
For the Red Storm to have a shot in that game, Wright must be close to 100 percent. If she is, it could be 2005-2006 all over again for the Red Storm. And that means 20-plus wins and an NCAA Tournament bid.