Stifling Defense Fuels Pirates to Season-Opening Win

Tuesday, November 7

South Orange, N.J.

7:00 PM

Seton Hall University

1-0,0-0Big East

Iona

0-1,0-0MAAC

Iona

Seton Hall

Stifling Defense Fuels Pirates to Season-Opening Win

11/7/2023 10:17:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score BOX SCORE - IONA (.pdf)

The Hall holds Iona to just 32 points, the fewest allowed in the Anthony Bozzella era.

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Eleven players scored and the Seton Hall women's basketball team held Iona to just 32 total points in a dominant 75-32 victory to open the 2023-24 season in Walsh Gymnasium on Tuesday.

The Hall used a 23-2 run that spanned most of the first quarter and the start of the second to pull away from the Gaels and cruise to its 13^th consecutive season-opening victory. The Pirates' defense held Iona to just 27.9% shooting from the floor and forced 24 turnovers.

Five players scored at least eight points with sophomore Micah Gray (Oklahoma City, Okla.) leading the way with a game-high 11 points on 4-for-5 shooting from the floor. Amari Wright (Jacksonville, Fla.) had nine points and a game-high six assists. Azana Baines (Blackwood, N.J.), Makennah White (Farrell, Pa.) and Kae Satterfield (New York, N.Y.) all had eight points apiece.

THE STORY:
Seton Hall looked dominant from the start, connecting on five of their first six shots to build an 11-4 advantage at the media break of the first quarter. The Pirates didn't relent and finished the first quarter on a 20-2 run. A three-point play by Savannah Catalon (Burleson, Texas) gave The Hall a 22-6 lead after 10 minutes.

The Pirates didn't relent in the second quarter as a total of nine players scored in the first 20 minutes. The Hall shot 53.6% from the field in the first half, and held Iona to just 25.9% shooting. The Hall took a commanding 41-16 lead into halftime.

Iona didn't score their first points of the third quarter until the 2:41 mark, and by that time, the Seton Hall lead had ballooned to 54-16.

Micah Gray for 3️⃣!!! Pretty look by Azana Baines!!#HALLin pic.twitter.com/wptrCmrZnS
— Seton Hall Women's Basketball (@SHUWBB) November 8, 2023

THE NUMBERS:

Seton Hall was 30-for-62 (48.4%) from the floor for the game, while Iona was 12-for-43 (27.9%). The Hall was 3-for-15 (20.0%) from three-point range, while the Gaels were 4-for-15 (26.7%).
Gray had a game-high 11 points on 4-for-5 shooting from the floor.
The Hall out-rebounded Iona, 39-to-26, which included a 14-to-7 edge on the offensive glass and a 12-to-3 advantage in second-chance points.
Wright had nine points, a game-high six assists and two steals.
Seton Hall was 12-for-13 (92.3%) from the free-throw line, while Iona was 4-for-8 (50.0%).
White had eight points, a game-high eight rebounds, two assists and two steals in only 15 minutes.
Seton Hall forced 24 turnovers, while the Gaels forced 11. The Hall had a 27-to-5 advantage in points-off-turnovers.
Baines tallied eight points, six rebounds, three steals, two blocks and two assists.
The Pirates had 36 bench points, compared to just four for Iona.
Satterfield tallied eight points, two steals and two rebounds.
The Hall outscored Iona, 40-to-8, in the paint.

PSN's Sydney Babik caught up with Micah Gray and Amari Wright postgame!#HALLin pic.twitter.com/3dxMSHoN2O
— Seton Hall Women's Basketball (@SHUWBB) November 8, 2023

THE NOTES:

Seton Hall improves to 1-0 on the young season, while Iona drops to 0-1.
The Pirates have now won 13 straight season-openers, which includes all 11 with head coach Anthony Bozzella at the helm.
The Hall is now a perfect 16-0 all-time against the Gaels.
The Pirates improve to 117-46 in Walsh Gym during the Bozzella era. Furthermore, the Pirates are now 58-12 against non-conference opponents at home.
Tonight's victory was the 497^th of head coach Anthony Bozzella's career. He needs just three more to reach the remarkable milestone of 500.
With eight points tonight, White surpassed the 600-points mark for her career.
Iona's 32 points are the fewest allowed by the Pirates since defeating Stony Brook, 65-30, on Dec. 17, 2011. It's the fewest points allowed by Seton Hall during the Bozzella era.

UP NEXT:
Seton Hall will head on the road for a short trip to Columbia University on Friday, Nov. 10. The game will be streamed live by ESPN+. Tip-time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET.