St. John's women move on with win at Oklahoma

By Jeff Latzke

Associated Press

Published: Tuesday, March 20 2012 10:01 p.m. MDT

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Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale, left, signals to her team in the first half of an NCAA tournament second-round women's college basketball game against St. John's in Norman, Okla., Tuesday, March 20, 2012. From left are Coale, Sharane Campbell, Morgan Hook, Jelena Cerina and Kaylon Williams.

Sue Ogrocki, Associated Press

Summary

Eugeneia McPherson scored 21 points, Shenneika Smith added 18 and St. John's advanced to the regional semifinals of the NCAA women's tournament for the first time in school history with a 74-70 win at Oklahoma on Tuesday night.

NORMAN, Okla. — Eugeneia McPherson scored 21 points, Shenneika Smith added 18 and St. John's advanced to the regional semifinals of the NCAA women's tournament for the first time in school history with a 74-70 win at Oklahoma on Tuesday night.

The third-seeded Red Storm (24-9) came up with 21 points off of Oklahoma's 19 turnovers and were able to hold off a second-half charge to win in the second round for the first time in five tries.

Nadirah McKenith, who hit a buzzer-beater in an opening-round win against Creighton, had 13 points and seven assists and Da'Shena Stevens chipped in 11 points for St. John's.

Whitney Hand led No. 6 seed Oklahoma (21-13) with 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. The Sooners had a chance to tie on Aaryn Ellenberg's 3-pointer from the top of the key with 37 seconds left, but the ball ticked off the right side of the rim and went out of bounds.

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