Smith, Barnes Arico, Evans honored
Shenneika Smith shoots from under the basket. (Jan. 17, 2012) Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
The St. John’s women continue to earn accolades for their record-breaking season.
Red Storm junior guard Shenneika Smith was named All-Met Division player of the year Tuesday by the MET Basketball Writers Association. She was joined on the first team by teammates Nadirah McKenith and Da’Shena Stevens.
Hofstra’s Shante Evans, Marist’s Corielle Yarde and April Sykes (Rutgers) were also voted to the first team.
Former St. John’s coach Kim Barnes Arico was awarded MET Maggie Dixon Coach of the Year. It was the third honor for Barnes Arico.
Smith led St. John’s (24-10) in scoring (12.5 ppg), rebounds (6.4) and blocked shots (40). The 6-1 junior had 18 points in the Red Storm’s second-round win over Oklahoma in the NCAA Tournament. She hit a critical three-pointer late in the second half to help the Red Storm upset Connecticut and added 24 points in St. John’s opening-round win over Louisville in the Big East Tournament.
Barnes Arico spearheaded St. John’s rise into the elite. In her 10 years as coach she won a program-record 176 games and led the Red Storm to four NCAA Tournament berths, including an appearance in each of the last three seasons. The 2011-2012 season was her best, as the Red Storm advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history.
In addition to the NCAA Tournament appearance, St. John’s beat Connecticut, halting its 99-game home winning streak, finished second in the regular season Big East standings and swept Rutgers.
Barnes Arico stepped down as coach of the Red Storm last week to take the same position at the University of Michigan.
