Jamaica, N.Y.  The St. Johns womens basketball team fell to Providence College, 62-51, this afternoon at Alumni Hall. The Red Storm came back from a 35-19 deficit at the half, to tie the game at 37 with 9:42, but were unable to seal the win. The Red Storm fall to 3-19 overall and 0-11, while the Friars improve to 9-12 and 3-7.

Providence controlled the first half from the tip, scoring the first seven points. The Red Storm was held scoreless until 16:29, when sophomore Shemika Stevens (New York, N.Y.) connected on a short jumper. The Friars gained their largest lead of the half at 9:09 when they went ahead 26-9, PCs Keisha Blackwell had 11 first half points, and Dani Trippany added 10 rebounds in the first 20 minutes of play. The Friars held a 35-19 advantage at the break.

The Red Storm came out strong in the second half, holding the Friars to just one field goal in the first 12 minutes of action. The Red Storm pulled to within two when freshman Patrycja Gulak (Olsztyn, Poland) grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back for two points. Senior Kenyawna Hudgens (Washington, D.C.) then tied the game at 37 with 9:42 to go. Providence hit five free throws, followed by a Kristin Quinn three, to go ahead 45-39. SJU would pull within four once again, on two free throws from Stevens. But, the Friars would close the win by hitting 10 free throws in the final 1:33. Providence took the game, 62-51.

Stevens led the Red Storm with 16 points, seven rebounds, and three steals. Gulak also posted double-figures, scoring 15 points and just missing another double-double with a team-high nine rebounds. Junior Creasie Fowler (Milwaukee, Wis.), playing in her first game since January 19, had eight points and four rebounds in 23 minutes. Hudgens, playing out of position due to the absence of Rasheedah Brown, posted seven points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Nora Gyuris (Pecs, Hungary) dished out a team-high three assists and grabbed a pair of rebounds off the bench. Freshman Mary Pat Statler (New Cumberland, W.Va.), who had been the Red Storms high scorer in the last two contests, was held to just three points, all from the foul line.

Blackwell led Providence with 11 points, followed by Jessica Simmonds, who recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Trippany finished with nine points and 10 boards.

The Red Storm shot 30.5 percent from the field to the Friars 27.0 percent, but sent Providence to the free throw line 31 times, 21 of which they were able to connect on. Providence, a strong rebounding team, outrebounded SJU, 51-47.

The Red Storm return to action on Saturday, February 9 at 2:00pm when they travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Panthers in BIG EAST action.