Stout Defense Lifts Pirates to Sixth Straight Win, 60-52

Monday, February 8

Washington, D.C. / McDonough Arena

4:00 PM

Seton Hall University

9-3,7-2Big East

Georgetown

1-9,1-9Big East

Seton Hall

Georgetown

Stout Defense Lifts Pirates to Sixth Straight Win, 60-52

2/8/2021 6:40:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score HOME BOX SCORE (.pdf)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Seton Hall women's basketball team relied on a strong defensive effort amid a poor shooting night to outlast Georgetown, 60-52, on Monday for its sixth consecutive victory.

Playing in their first game after a 17-day layoff, the Pirates struggled mightily shooting the ball early, but found their touch in the fourth quarter. After shooting just 19.7% from the floor through three quarters, The Hall was 10-for-15 (67.7%) in the defining fourth quarter.

The Pirates improve to 7-2 in BIG EAST play and have won six straight games for the first time since the 2015-16 season.

Andra Espinoza-Hunter (Ossining, N.Y.) had a tough shooting night, but came through down the stretch. She led The Hall with 18 points, nine of which were scored in the fourth quarter.

Senior Desiree Elmore (Hartford, Conn.), Lauren Park-Lane (Wilmington, Del.) and Jasmine Smith (Houston, Texas) all also scored in double-figures. Elmore finished with 15 points, five rebounds and four steals. Park-Lane netted 12 points, while Smith came off the bench for a big 11 points, four rebounds and two steals.

The Story:
Seton Hall started the game cold from the field, missing on 13 of their first 15 shots, but during that same period, the Pirates forced seven Georgetown turnovers. Despite the shooting woes, the Pirates took an 8-7 lead into the second quarter. The Pirates were just 3-for-18 from the field, including 0-for-5 from three-point range in the opening frame.

A three-pointer by Mya Bembry (West Orange, N.J.) put The Hall on top 22-19, but Georgetown held the Pirates scoreless for the final 3:50 of the half and took a 25-22 lead into halftime. The Pirates shot just 21.6% from the floor in the first half and were 2-for-10 from three-point range. The Hall was also heavily out-rebounded in the first 20 minutes, losing the battle on the glass, 32-to-18.

The offensive struggles continued early in the second half with neither team being able to maintain a comfortable lead. Finally, the Pirates made their move in the fourth quarter. Trailing 39-36, The Hall went on a 7-0 run, highlighted by Espinoza-Hunter's first three-pointer of the game, to take a 43-39 lead with 6:29 left to play. Georgetown was able to cut the Pirates' lead to one point with just over 5:00 left, but the Hoyas never got closer. Leading 49-46, senior Jasmine Smith (Houston, Texas) hit a huge three-pointer from the corner to double the Pirates lead with only 2:55 remaining. The Hall cruised from there.

Inside the Numbers:

Seton Hall was 23-for-68 (33.8%) from the floor for the game, while Georgetown was 22-for-63 (34.9%). The Hall was 5-for-21 (23.8%) from three-point range, while the Hoyas were 4-for-23 (17.4%).
Espinoza-Hunter led The Hall with 18 points to go with six rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Georgetown out-rebounded the Pirates, 55-to-32, which included a 21-to-11 advantage on the offensive boards and a 21-to-5 lead in second-chance points.
Elmore had 15 points on 6-for-12 shooting to go with five rebounds, four steals and three assists.
Seton Hall was 9-for-11 (81.8%) from the free-throw line, while Georgetown was 4-for-8 (50.0%).
Park-Lane had 12 points and three steals.
Seton Hall forced 21 turnovers, while Georgetown forced only six. The Pirates had 16 points off turnovers, compared to just eight for the Hoyas.
Smith had 11 points on an efficient 5-for-7 shooting along with four rebounds and two steals off the bench.

News & Notes:

Seton Hall improves to 9-3 overall and 7-2 in BIG EAST games, while Georgetown falls to 1-9 both overall and in conference play.
The Pirates are now 7-2 in BIG EAST Conference games for the first time since the 2014-15 season.
Seton Hall has now won six straight games for the first time since a six-game streak late in the 2015-16 season.
The Hall improves to 40-29 all-time against Georgetown and has now won three straight in the series.
With 15 points today, Elmore passed former Pirates Cecilia Lindqvist and Noteisha Womack into 34^th place on Seton Hall's all-time scoring list. She currently has 865 career points.
Espinoza-Hunter came just two points away from her sixth straight game with 20 points. She has scored in double-figures in eight straight games, every game of her career at Seton Hall.
Seton Hall has now forced at least 20 turnovers in eight of 12 games so far this year.
The Pirates are a perfect 8-0 when its opponent scores 70 or fewer points.
Seton Hall's six turnovers committed against Georgetown are a season-low.
Georgetown's 55 rebounds and 10 blocks are season-highs for a Pirate opponent.

Up Next:
Seton Hall will return to action on Wednesday, February 10 when it travels to Storrs, Conn. for a contest against third-ranked Connecticut at Gampel Pavilion. The game will be televised by SNY, and of course will be provided on the radio by 89.5 FM WSOU and wsou.net. Tip-time is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET.