Pirates Outlast Toledo in Overtime Thriller, 68-63

Friday, November 26

Cancun, Mexico / Hard Rock Riviera Maya

4:00 PM

Seton Hall University

3-2,0-0Big East

Toledo

3-2,0-0MAC

OT 1

Toledo

Seton Hall

11/26/2021 7:22:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score HOME BOX SCORE (.pdf)

Park-Lane goes for game-highs of 19 points and nine assists as The Hall splits in Cancun.

CANCUN, MEXICO – Junior Lauren Park-Lane (Wilmington, Del.) had game-highs of 19 points and nine assists and Andra Espinoza-Hunter (Ossining, N.Y.) added 18 points as the Seton Hall women's basketball team defeated Toledo, 68-63, in overtime in their finale of the Cancun Challenge on Friday.

After Espinoza-Hunter hit a pair of free throws late in regulation to send the game into overtime, the Pirates never trailed in the extra session. Park-Lane scored five of the Pirates' 11 overtime points, and Espinoza-Hunter hit a huge three-pointer to cement The Hall's lead late.

Park-Lane finished with 19 points to go with a season-high nine assist and four rebounds. Espinoza-Hunter added 18 points on the strength of four made three-pointers. She also had five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Mya Jackson (Wilmington, Ohio) was a third Pirate to reach double-figures in scoring. She had 12 points and three rebounds.

The injury-depleted Pirates also got a career-best performance out of junior Kailah Harris (Ossining, N.Y.). the 6-foot-1 forward registered career-highs of six points and eight rebounds in a career-most 24 minutes off the bench.

The Story:
The opening quarter was evenly match with the Pirates taking a slim 12-11 advantage into the second frame. With the score tied at 15, Espinoza-Hunter drained a three-pointer, and a jumper by Kailah Harris (Ossining, N.Y.) on the next possession gave The Hall a 20-15 lead with 7:15 to go before halftime. After Toledo closed to within 29-28, The Hall finished the half with the final five points, and a layup by Park-Lane just 43 second before the break sent them into the locker room with a 34-28 advantage.

A layup by Jackson gave The Hall a 39-34 lead, but Toledo responded with six straight to take a slim, 40-39 lead with 6:00 left in the third quarter. With under a minute left in the quarter, Jackson drilled a three-pointer and Park-Lane followed with a driving layup to give The hall a 50-47 lead at the end of three quarters.

Down two points with just over a minute remaining in regulation, Espinoza-Hunter calmly sank a pair of free-throw to tie the game and sent the contest into overtime. The Pirates never trailed in the extra session as Park-Lane hit an acrobatic layup to give The Hall the lead, and two minutes later Espinoza-Hunter drained a three-pointer to give the Pirates a 63-59 lead with 2:42 to go. With 34 seconds left Jackson hit a jumper to put the Hall up 67-61, and they held on for a five-point victory.

HUGE three-point play by Lauren Park-Lane to start overtime!! pic.twitter.com/yJib3rqG1X
— Seton Hall Women's Basketball (@SHUWBB) November 26, 2021

Inside the Numbers:

Seton Hall was 24-for-63 (38.1%) from the floor for the game, while Toledo was 26-for-73 (35.6%). The Hall was 10-for-30 (33.3%) from three-point range, while the Rockets were 4-for-24 (16.7%).
Park-Lane had game-highs of 19 points and nine assists. She also grabbed four rebounds in 45 minutes played.
Toledo out-rebounded The Hall, 46-to-41, which included an 15-to-8 advantage on the offensive boards and a 14-to-7 edge in second-chance points.
Espinoza-Hunter finished with 18 points on the strength of four made three-pointers and pulled down five rebounds with three assists and two steals.
Seton Hall was 10-for-11 (90.9%) from the free-throw line, while Toledo was 7-for-10 (70.0%).
Jackson tallied 12 points and three rebounds.
Seton Hall forced 13 turnovers, while Toledo forced 14.
Harris had career-highs of six points, eight rebounds and 24 minutes played off the bench.

News & Notes:

Seton Hall improves to 3-2 on the young season, while Toledo drops to 3-2.
The Pirates are now 1-1 all-time against the Rockets and avenge a loss to them in the 2019 WNIT.
With two made three-pointers today, Jackson moved past former Pirate Tahnee Heins into 11^th place on the Pirates' career list.
Park-Lane has now scored in double-figures in 13 straight games dating back to last year. Espinoza-Hunter has done so in 12 straight games.
With seven rebounds today, Katie Armstrong (Collegeville, Pa.) reached the 500-mark for her career.
With four rebounds today, Bembry reached the 200-mark for her career.
Park-Lane has now recorded at least seven assists in three straight contests.

Up Next:
Seton Hall will return to action on Wednesday, December 1 when it hosts local rival Iona at newly-renovated historic Walsh Gymnasium. Game time is scheduled for Noon. The contest will again be available for subscribers on FloSports.