One table I meant to get over to at the Big East women's basketball media day was St. John's so I could speak to head coach Kim Barnes Arico as well as former Trinity Catholic star Da'Shena Stevens. Well, I never managed to speak with them and looks like that was an error on my part since St. John's put out a release earlier today that Stevens is expected to be sidelined for the first 4-6 weeks of the regular season as she recovers from knee surgery meaning she should be back at some point in December and the DePaul game could be the only Big East game she would miss. Former Lauralton Hall star Keylantra Langley is one of the players who could see expanded roles while Stevens is sidelined.

Here is the release

QUEENS, N.Y. (Oct. 21, 2011) – St. John’s senior forward Da’Shena Stevens is expected to miss the first 4-6 weeks of regular season play due to recovery on a knee injury suffered over the offseason. A preseason 2011-12 All-BIG EAST selection, the Stamford , Conn. , native is expected to return in mid-December.

Stevens is one of St. John’s most highly honored players, she was the 2009 BIG EAST Freshman of the year, a two-time All-BIG EAST player, three-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team honoree, a 2010-11 preseason Naismith Trophy Award Watch list member, two-time All-Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association member and 2010 All-Met Player of the Year, 2010 Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American and WBCA Region I All-American. Stevens is the No. 11 on St. John’s all-time career scoring list with 1,243 points and No. 6 on St. John’s all-time rebounding charts with 673 boards.

            The Red Storm was picked seventh in the 2011-12 BIG EAST Preseason coaches poll. St. John’s season officially kicks off with a home contest against St. Bonaventure on Nov. 12.