Local roundup: Stony Brook in NIT, St. John's women win again

We all know the story with Stony Brook. The Seawolves 82-78 win over Vermont on Wednesday night gives them an automatic bid to the NIT. Click here for Greg Logan's column.

Check this link for Mark Herrmann's game story.

Stony Brook still needs to win the America East Tournament to get a NCAA bid. As of right now, the Seawolves, the top seed, will host the America East championship game. There has been some debate as to whether the America East will allow the Seawolves to host the game at Pritchard, which seats 1,800. 

The America East requires at least double of that capacity.

The Seawolves are on the road to face New Hampshire in its season finale on Sunday. 

But don't think of it as a throw-away game. The more Stony Brook wins, the better chance it has of avoiding an NCAA play-in game and the dreaded 16th seed.  

St. John's women win at Rutgers.  The St. John's women just keep on rolling. Big East rookie of the year candidate Shenneika Smith had 15 points and led four players in double figures as St. John's (22-5, 10-4 Big East) knocked off Rutgers, 60-52, at the RAC on Wednesday.

The No.18 Red Storm have two games left -home vs. Villanova and at Pittsburgh- to get ready for the Big East tournament.

St. John's is currently fifth in the Big East standings. If Notre Dame (24-3, 11-3) loses in either of its final two regular season games and the Red Storm win their final two, St. John's will finish fourth.

St. John's defeated the No.7 Irish last week.

Hofstra men going for 20. Despite an inconsistent season, the Hofstra men's team could be on its way to 20 wins. The Pride improved to 17-13 with its win over Northeastern on Saturday. The Pride host a 12-18 Georgia State on Saturday. A win in that game would give them 18 wins. It wouldn't be out of the realm for Hofstra to win two games in the CAA tournament.