St. John’s women’s Basketball is riding high after picking up back-to-back wins. The Red Storm had an offensive explosion in their 88-60 rout of the Yale Bulldogs, highlighted by a career performance from
Brooke Moore. They have found their groove early in the season behind their stout defense that ranks second in the Big East.
With momentum on their side, the Red Storm prepares for its first real test of the season as they host their most formidable opponent so far in the season, when the No. 18 Oklahoma State Cowgirls come into Carnesecca Arena on Wednesday night.
Game information
Who: St John’s Red Storm (3-1) vs. No. 18 Oklahoma State Cowgirls (5-0)
When: Wednesday, November 19th, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Carnesecca Arena, Jamaica, New York
TV: ESPN+
Radio: WSJU Radio
Series History: Today’s matchup marks the first meeting between these two programs.
What to watch for
The Cowgirls have firmly established themselves as a team to watch this season. Coming off a season where they finished with a record of 25-7, Oklahoma State managed to reel off five in a row after a five-game homestand, and they currently find themselves ranked No. 18 in the country in this week’s AP top 25 poll and remain one of the most dangerous scoring teams in the nation.
Head coach Jacie Hoyt’s squad has thrived behind its prolific three-point shooting, ranking second in the country in scoring at 105.6 points per game. The Cowgirls are also ranked 4th in effective field goal percentage nationally (61.0%) and have dominated the boards so far this season, ranking in the top five nationally in offensive and defensive rebounds per game.
Oklahoma State managed to blow out teams early thanks to its perimeter firepower, making 40% of its triples so far this season, the 24th-best rate in the country. After their 105-55 win over Prairie View A&M, the Cowgirls set an NCAA record by making a total of 73 three-pointers through their first five games, the most by a Division-I team in its first five contests since at least the 1999-2000 season.
Senior Micah Gray leads the way in scoring for the Cowgirls, averaging 18.2 points, on an efficient 47% from the field and 43.2% from three. The Oklahoma City native has faced St. John’s before when she played at Seton Hall during her sophomore year, averaging 10.5 points in two meetings during the 2023-24 season.
Gray is joined by transfer guard Haliegh Timmer, who previously played for South Dakota State, the same team that knocked out Oklahoma State in last season’s NCAA Tournament. Timmer is averaging 16.6 points, three rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.4 steals per game while shooting with a 63.8% field-goal percentage and 52.9% from 3-point range.
Lena Giradi has emerged as another threat from behind the arch for the Cowgirls. She recently owns the freshman record for most three-pointers with her nine 3-pointers earlier this season against NAIA school Langston.
Junior Achol Akot is a key cog to Oklahoma State’s early season dominance on the glass. The UCF transfer has been a reliable force inside for the Cowgirls, averaging 11.2 points and a team-high 8.4 rebounds per game through five contests.
Keys to the game
Limit the three-ball – Jacie Hoyt’s club thrives on three-point shooting. St John’s must limit every perimeter shot and limit their attempts from behind the arc.
Control the pace – If the Red Storm want to play their game on Wednesday, they need to dictate the pace and slow down the Cowgirls’ explosive offensive attack. This also means staying competitive on the glass and preventing second-chance opportunities.
Ride the hot hands – St. John would need another prolific shooting performance from their key scorers to keep up with Oklahoma State’s high-powered offense. They should lean on leading scorers Brooke Moore and Sa’Mya Wyatt to make their shots tonight.
Prediction
Oklahoma State might be the Red Storm’s toughest opponent they will face not named UConn this season. The Cowgirls’ perimeter-oriented offense, elite rebounding, and scoring depth present a formidable challenge for the Red Storm.
The Red Storm will need defensive intensity, smart shot selection, and consistent scoring to keep up with the Cowgirls. But it may be a little much for St. John’s. Oklahoma State wins, 97-79.
