NEW YORK, N.Y. - The Monmouth University women's basketball team returns to the eastern time zone to take on St. John's on Wednesday, December 3 at 7:00 p.m. in New York City. The Hawks are coming off winning the 2008 UTEP Thanksgiving Classic this past weekend in El Paso, Texas. MU defeated the host Miners 54-49 in their first game at the tournament on Friday, limiting the UTEP to 36.4% shooting for the game. Monmouth limited the Miners to their second-lowest scoring output of the season, and held them below 50 points one game after they defeated Savannah State 103-46. The Hawks then topped Utah State 48-44 to claim the tournament's title.

Monmouth was paced by senior Jennifer Bender, who was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player and the Defensive Player of the Tournament, as she scored 22 points against UTEP and 23 against Utah State. The Hawks have never defeated St. John's and have only defeated four teams from the BIG EAST in their history. The Hawks defeated Connecticut 83-64 on January 29, 1983 and beat two teams from the conference during the 1984-85 season; MU topped Villanova 51-45 on December 5 and defeated Seton Hall 80-63 four days later. The Hawks last win over a school from the BIG EAST came on November 27 1987, when they were victorious over Georgetown 66-64 on a neutral floor.

St. John's is a perfect 6-0 on the season, including an unblemished 4-0 mark at home. The Red Storm are coming off a 70-58 win over Vermont their last time out. St. John's is outscoring their opposition this season by 15.5 points per game and have topped the 70-point plateau in three games. The Red Storm have also been getting it done on the defensive end of the court, holding opponents to 51.0 points per game and 21.7% field goal shooting this year. They have yet to allow an opponent to top 58 points this season and force an average of 20 turnovers per game. They are led by Monique McLean, who is averaging 16.8 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game. They also have two other players, Da'Shena Stevens and Kelly McManmon, who average double figures with 11.2 and 10.2 points per game, respectively. McManmon is the team's three-point shooting threat having connected on 17-of-43 three point field goals, good enough for 39.5%.

THE GAME:
Monmouth (4-1) vs. St. John's (6-0) 
December 3, 2008
Tip: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Queens, N.Y. ? Carnesecca Arena
Series: St. John's leads 4-0

MU Game Notes below