Providence, R.I. - Led by three players in double-figures, the St. John's women's basketball team earned its first BIG EAST victory in almost two years with a 67-62 win over Providence at Mullaney Gymnasium. Junior Shemika Stevens (New York, N.Y.) notched her first career double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Danielle Rainey (Los Angeles, Calif.) and junior Reka Szavuly (Miskolc, Hungary) chipped in 17 and 15, respectively, to snap the Red Storm's 24 game losing streak in conference play. Prior to tonight, St. John's last league win came on Feb. 20, 2001 at home over Syracuse. The Red Storm's first win since December 31 also marks first year head coach Kim Barnes Arico's first career BIG EAST win.

The Red Storm rallied from a five-point halftime deficit, outscoring Providence 42-32 in the second half. The Friars also were out rebounded in the second half, 24-10, and 40-24 for the game.

St. John's held its largest lead of (59-50) with 4:13 remaining in the game, but allowed Providence to tie the game at 60 on a jumper by Quiana Copeland with 1:05 remaining. Off a block by the Copeland, Stevens grabbed the offensive board for the Red Storm and laid it back in for the 62-60 lead with 35 seconds on the clock. PC's Kristin Quinn committed her fifth foul with 22 seconds to go, sending Rainey to the line. She knocked down both for the four-point lead (64-62). Kacee Wheeler hit a jumper down the other end to cut the lead to two with 12 seconds to play. Rainey went to the line for the 14th and 15th time on a foul by Wheeler. Rainey connected on her 11th free throw to give St. Johns the 65-62 advantage with 11 seconds to play. With just two seconds on the clock, Rainey stole the ball from Wheeler and hit a layup at the buzzer for the 67-62 win.

The first half was a back and forth battle between the teams. Stevens scored off a steal by Szavuly to put the Red Storm ahead 9-8. After nearly three scoreless minutes, Providence's Keisha Blackwell knocked down a three to put her team up 11-9. Rainey, playing in her first game since suffering an abdominal strain on January 11, put SJU up 12-11 on a three-point play. The Friars' responded with their own three-point play by Andrea Horvath. The teams would trade baskets to make it 18-all. Providence outscored St. John's 12-7 the rest of the way to take a five-point lead (30-25) into the break.

Stevens led all scorers with a career-high 19 points and had a game-high 10 rebounds, also a career-high. Szavuly's career-high 15 points came on 6-of-10 shooting from the field, including three three's. Rainey finished with 17, 11 from the foul line, two assists, two steals and two rebounds.

Sophomore Patrycja Gulak (Olstzyn, Poland) grabbed nine rebounds and chipped in eight points. In just 18 minutes of action, junior Kati Kurtosi (Miskolc, Hungary) pulled down eight boards and recorded three field goals for six points.

The Friars (8-8, 2-3) were led by sophomore guard Michal Epstein with 14 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Senior center Kacee Wheeler and sophomore point guard Keisha Blackwell were the only other Friars to reach double figures, scoring 11 points each. Sophomore forward Quiana Copeland led Providence on the boards with six rebounds.

St. John's shot 80.0 percent from the line on a 20-for-25 effort. In comparison, the Friars hit 8-of-11 free throws. Providence shot better from the field, connecting on 48.1 (26-54) percent of its shots to the Red Storm's 39.6 (21-53).

The Red Storm will take on No. 23 Rutgers on Saturday, January 25 in Piscataway, N.J. Tipoff at the Louis Brown Arena is slated for 2:00 pm.