Cooks, Espinoza-Hunter Excel in Pirate Loss to Fordham

Saturday, November 13

South Orange, N.J.

11:30 AM

Seton Hall University

1-1,0-0Big East

Fordham

2-0,0-0Atlantic 10

Fordham

Seton Hall

Cooks, Espinoza-Hunter Excel in Pirate Loss to Fordham

11/13/2021 3:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score HOME BOX SCORE (.pdf)

Cooks nets team-highs of 21 points and nine rebounds in her first game as a Pirate.

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Playing in her first game in a Pirate uniform, Sidney Cooks (Kenosha, Wis.) scored a team-high 21 points to go with nine rebounds, but the Seton Hall women's basketball team fell to Fordham, 82-63, on Saturday.

After trailing by as many as 14 points in the first half, The Hall used a 12-1 run late in the third quarter to cut its deficit to only two points. But the Pirates never got closer.

Cooks was an efficient 10-for-15 from the field and drained a three-pointer in her first action of the season. Andra Espinoza-Hunter (Ossining, N.Y.) finished with 20 points, 14 in the second half, and was 4-for-6 from three-point range. She also grabbed seven rebounds.

The Story:
Seton Hall started the game well, jumping out to an early 7-3 lead on a jumper by Cooks, but Fordham closed out the first quarter with a 15-6 run and took an 18-13 lead into the second. The Pirates rallied with an 8-2 run to open the quarter, and a three-pointer by Espinoza-Hunter gave them a 21-20 lead with 8:24 left before halftime. An 8-1 Fordham run enabled them to re-claim the lead and give it a 29-22 cushion with 5:17 left in the first half.

Seton Hall trailed 42-29 at the half, but was out-shooting Fordham, 39.3%-to-38.5%. The Pirate deficit was due in large part to 11 turnovers and 2-for-9 shooting from three-point range.

The Pirates out-scored Fordham in the third quarter, 23-16, as they mounted a comeback. Down 50-37, The Hall went on a 12-1 burst, and a pair of free-throws by Lauren Park-Lane (Wilmington, Del.) cut its deficit to just two points, 51-49, with 1:49 left in the third. The Rams, however, regrouped and took a six-point lead into the fourth quarter.

Fordham started the fourth quarter with seven straight points to extend its advantage to 65-52 with 7:20 left to play. Another jumper by Espinoza-Hunter cut the Pirates' deficit to nine, 65-56, with 6:40 to go, but they didn't get closer.

Inside the Numbers:

Seton Hall was 22-for-57 (38.6%) from the floor for the game, while Fordham was 31-for-70 (44.3%). The Hall was 6-for-16 (37.5%) from three-point range, while the Rams were 9-for-26 (34.6%).
Cooks finished with team-highs of 21 points, on 10-for-15 shooting, and nine rebounds.
The Hall was out-rebounded by Fordham, 44-to-33, including a 14-to-5 advantage on the offensive boards and a 15-to-5 edge in second-chance points.
Espinoza-Hunter had 20 points and was 4-for-6 from three-point range. She also collected seven rebounds.
Seton Hall was 13-for-17 (76.5%) from the free-throw line, while Fordham was 11-for-16 (68.8%).
Park-Lane had 15 points and a game-high six assists with only two turnovers.
Seton Hall forced 16 turnovers, while Fordham forced 20.

News & Notes:

Seton Hall drops to 1-1 on the young season, while Fordham improves to 2-0.
The Hall is now 7-5 all-time against the Rams.
The Pirates fall to 91-37 in Walsh Gym during the Bozzella era. This is only the eighth loss against non-conference opponents in 57 games.
With six assists today, Park-Lane moved past former Pirate Texlin Quinney and into a tie with Cecilia Linqvist for 17^th place on Seton Hall's career list.
Espinoza-Hunter's 20-point game is her second of the season and the ninth in 19 games so far as a Pirate.

Up Next:
Seton Hall will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 16 when it hosts Lehigh in newly-renovated Walsh Gymnasium. The game will be streamed live by the Pirate Sports Network and available for subscribers at FloSports. Tickets are available by calling 973-275-HALL (4255). Tip-time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET.