On Dec. 7, the St. John’s women’s basketball team faced the Providence Friars in the second game of Big East play. The Red Storm and the Friars have played against each other before, with their most recent contest on January 29, 2024, when the Johnnies won 62-55.

The game immediately started off with St. John’s gaining possession, but unfortunately handing it over to the Friars for their first point of the night. With Sa’mya Wyatt and Brooke Moore making the first two layups, bringing the score to 4-4. Missed three-point shots and four back-to-back shots from Providence brought the score to 16-6, more than double over the Johnnies. 

But something changed throughout the second half of the game. Even though the Johnnies struggle to climb up in score, they manage to do it with the help of Shaulana Wagner and Janeya Grant‘s back-to-back three-pointers, bringing them to 19-18. 

What looked like the ending to the underdog fight that St. John’s was battling, bringing the score to 21-20, was only false hope given by the Red Storm. With that, the first half ended 30-22. 

The second half of the game started even worse for the Johnnies, as Providence was physically beating them with an over 10 point difference of 24-37. It looked like the game was already pre-decided with the winners being the Friars.

But once Wyatt, Moore, and Jailah Donald were subbed into the competition it was game over for the Friars as one after another points were made, bringing the score to a five point difference at 46-39.

It was clear now that  the Johnnies could and would pull off a huge comeback. 

With key points earned from free throws by both Donald and Moore, as well as multiple layups by Wyatt, the score was 47-46 with St. John’s winning. The comeback and raw energy felt throughout the entire arena fueled the players in only working harder. Providence, trying to do anything they can to stop the Johnnies momentum, called continuous timeouts but it wasn’t enough in the end. 

Down to the last minute, St. John’s fought and won with the final score being 62-55. 

With the next match for St. John’s being Dec. 10 against Stony Brook and their next Big East game against Villanova on Dec. 22, it’s clear that each game will be as nail-biting as the others.