St. John's tops Memphis in Holiday Classic
St. John's University's Shenneika Smith at St. John's Women's basketball team media day. (Nov. 4, 2011) Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
Shenneika Smith scored 18 points, and Eugeneia McPherson had 13 points as the St. John's women's basketball team beat Memphis, 64-60, Sunday to win its fourth straight St. John's-Chartwells Holiday Classic title.
Smith, who shot 8-for-14 for the game, scored 14 of her points in the first half as the Red Storm (7-5) led by as many as 14 early on. McPherson, who starred at North Babylon, has scored in double figures seven straight games.
McPherson, who had 20 points against Prairie View A&M in Saturday's opening round of games, was named tournament MVP. Smith was also named to the all-tournament team, along with senior forward Da'Shena Stevens, who had 11 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal.
Memphis (9-2), which lost for the first time in seven games, was led by Brittany Carter's 23 points. Carter, who shot 10-for-24, hit a pair of three-pointers to help key a Tigers rally from a 10-point deficit late.
Her second three closed the St. John's lead to 62-60 with less than two minutes left, but the Storm held on to improve to 6-1 at Carnesecca Arena this season and 8-0 all-time in its Holiday Classic.
