Pirates Open BIG EAST Play Friday On FS2

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. -- The Seton Hall women's basketball team (7-4, 0-0 BIG EAST) kicks off its 35th season of BIG EAST conference play on Friday night when it plays host to rival St. John's (8-3, 0-0) at Historic Walsh Gymnasium. The contest will be broadcast on FS2 as part of a first-of-its-kind limited commercial "All-Access" broadcast that will feature Seton Hall head coach Anthony Bozzella mic'd up for the duration of the contest. Lisa Byington and LaChina Robinson will have the call, with the match-up also available on the FOX Sports GO app and over the air on WSOU, 89.5 FM.

Tickets still remain for as low as $1 when purchased at the Seton Hall box office, with students and faculty/staff tickets FREE. With the contest falling on a "Pirate Pride Friday," fans are encouraged to wear their Pirate Blue and #PackWalsh for the 7 p.m. tip.

SETON HALL TIP-INS

The Hall is 7-4 on the year after closing its non-league sltate on Dec. 18
The Pirates are coming off back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances as Anthony Bozzella enters his fourth season at the helm of his alma mater
The Hall opens BIG EAST play in its 35th year of play in the conference and fourth since realignment
The Pirates feature one of the nation's youngest squads, boasting a roster that includes a total of nine freshmen
Eight different Pirates have scored in double-figures this season, all setting new career-high scoring marks in the process
The Hall has seen six different players receive weekly accolades from the BIG EAST this season, double the amount of any other team in the league
The Pirates lead the BIG EAST in blocked shots, steals and turnovers forced on the year

RED STORM REPORT

The Red Storm visit Walsh Gym after closing the non-conference schedule with an 8-3 record
St. John's boasts one of the nation's stingiest defenses, allowing only 51.1 points per game and holding opponents to 32.7 percent from the floor
Jade Walker leads the Red Storm in scoring and rebounding with 11.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game
Akina Wellere is the second member of St. John's to average double-figures at 10.7 per game and is shooting 56.8 percent from 3-point range, among the NCAA leaders
St. John's enters the match-up on a six-game win streak

RIDER RECAP

In its most recent outing, The Hall closed its non-conference slate with an 89-81 victory over in-state rival Rider
The Pirates posted their highest scoring output of the season, thanks in part to a 34-of-41 showing from the free throw line
JaQuan Jackson and Kaela Hilaire tied for the game-high with 19 points each, with Jackson snaring five rebounds and Hilaire dishing out five assists
Claire Lundberg was the third Pirate in double-figures, scoring 15 points on 4-of-5 shooting from 3-point range
The Hall finished with a 47.1 percent mark from the floor, 53.8 percent from 3-point range and 82.9 percent from the free throw line
The Pirates improved to 10-0 all-time against the Broncs with the victory

ST. JOHN'S SERIES NOTES

The Pirates have faced St. John's 72 times in the history of the two programs in a series dating back to 1976
The 76 meetings are the most for The Hall against any opponent
Seton Hall is 28-44 all-time against St. John's, but are 16-14 in the series in games at Walsh Gym
Last season the Red Storm swept the regular season series after The Hall took 2-of-3 in 2014-15
St. John's is one of only three teams (Creighton, DePaul) that SHU has a losing record against under Bozzella

WHAT'S AHEAD
Following the league opener on Friday night, the Pirates hit the road for a two-game midwest swing to continue conference action. The Hall will face Butler on Jan. 2 and take on Xavier on Jan. 4.