NEW YORK (Interstat) — The Saint John’s women’s basketball team used a decisive 26-8 third-quarter surge to pull away from DePaul and secure a 75-58 victory in a Big East Conference game Thursday at Carnesecca Arena. The Red Storm improved to 13-3 overall, while the Blue Demons fell to 3-13. Saint John’s dominated inside, shooting 58% from the floor and blocking 12 shots. DePaul shot just 35% and was outscored by 18 in the pivotal third period after trailing by only four at halftime. Alayna West led DePaul with 14 points. Saint John’s had a balanced attack with five players scoring between 8 and 11 points, led by Beautiful Waheed’s 11 points, five rebounds and four blocks.

NEW YORK (Interstat) — A stark contrast in fortunes will be on display Thursday when the struggling DePaul Blue Demons visit the surging Saint John’s Red Storm in a Big East women’s basketball matchup at Carnesecca Arena. The game tips off the 2026 calendar year and the heart of conference play for both teams. Saint John’s (12-3) enters riding high, having won five of its last six, including a 73-66 road victory over Marquette on Monday. The Red Storm have been strong at home, boasting a 6-1 record in Queens. DePaul (3-12), conversely, seeks to halt a six-game losing streak. The Blue Demons are coming off a deflating 81-48 home loss to Villanova, a game in which they trailed by 32 points at halftime. Their season has been marred by defensive struggles, conceding 90 or more points in three of their last seven contests. A key matchup will feature two of the conference’s top guards. Saint John’s is led by Shaulana Wagner, who nearly posted a double-double with 11 points and nine assists against Marquette. She has been a consistent facilitator for the Red Storm offense throughout the season. DePaul will rely on guard Kate Novik, who has been a bright spot during the skid. She scored a team-high 14 points in the loss to Villanova and recorded a double-double (12 points, 10 assists) in the team’s last win, a 78-48 victory over Massachusetts-Lowell on Dec. 11. The historical trends heavily favor the home team. Saint John’s has won seven of the last eight meetings against DePaul. For the Blue Demons to reverse that trend, they must find an answer defensively while hoping Novik can generate enough offense to keep pace. Following this contest, Saint John’s faces a quick turnaround with a daunting trip to Connecticut looming on Jan. 7. DePaul returns home to host Providence on Jan. 4.