Pirates Finish Strong; Down Auburn, 69-63

Sunday, December 14

South Orange, N.J.

1:00 PM

Seton Hall University

6-3,1-0Big East

Auburn

8-3,0-0SEC

Auburn

Seton Hall

12/14/2025 4:43:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score BOX SCORE (.pdf)

Valenzuela goes for 20 points and eight rebounds. Catalon had nine of her 15 points in the fourth.

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Mariana Valenzuela (Mazatlan, Mexico) had a team-high 20 points and the Seton Hall women's basketball team outlasted Auburn, 69-63, in Walsh Gymnasium on Sunday.

After consecutive sub-par fourth-quarter performances in the Pirates' last two games, Seton Hall was 6-for-12 from the floor in the final 10 minutes today. Savannah Catalon (Mansfield, Texas) and Jordana Codio (Winter Garden, Fla.) had nine points apiece in the fourth to fuel the Pirates to victory.

Valenzuela was an efficient 7-for-11 from the floor, including 4-for-7 from three-point range. She also grabbed eight rebounds and blocked a shot. Catalon had 15 points to go with eight rebounds, four assists and three steals. Codio, who came off the bench for the first time this season, provided a late spark and scored 14 points for the game.

Freshman Zahara Bishop (Minneapolis, Minn.), who made her first career start, had six points, four rebounds, four assists and was a team-best +14.

THE STORY:
Seton Hall shot out of the gate with high intensity on both ends of the floor. With the score tied at two early, the Pirates went on a 9-0 run and a rebound and putback by Messiah Hunter (Hopewell, Va.) gave them an 11-2 lead with 5:35 left in the first quarter and sent Auburn to a timeout. The Hall went scoreless, however, for the next 5:21, allowing Auburn to answer with an 11-0 run. A bucket by Natalia Hall-Rosa (Randolph, Mass.) tied the score at 13 after 10 minutes.

With the score tied at 15, the Pirates went on a 12-3 burst, and a made jumper by Bishop gave them a 27-18 lead with 4:45 to play before halftime. The Tigers cut their deficit to five points, but the Pirates responded with a three-pointer by Valenzuela, followed by a steal by Valenzuela and a pair of made free-throws from Codio to boost their lead back to 32-22 with under a minute left in the first half.

With The Hall leading by nine, Jada Eads (Orlando, Fla.) picked up her fourth foul with 8:03 left in the third quarter. Trailing 39-29, Auburn went on a 10-2 run with Eads on the bench and closed their deficit to just two points, 41-39, with 3:19 left in the third.

In the fourth quarter, a made three-pointer by Auburn's Ja'Mia Harris cut the Tigers' deficit to just one point, 62-61, with 1:49 left in the contest, but Codio responded with a three-pointer of her own on the Pirates' next possession. A three-pointer by Catalon on the Pirates' next trip down the floor with 40 seconds left boosted their lead to 68-63.

ICE IN HER VEINS!! MONSTER THREE BY CATALON WITH 38 SECONDS LEFT!!#HALLin 🏀🏴‍☠️🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/QGhUR57lV8
— Seton Hall Women's Basketball (@SHUWBB) December 14, 2025

THE NUMBERS:

Seton Hall was 25-for-59 (42.4%) from the floor for the game, while Auburn was 23-for-58 (39.7%). The Hall was 12-for-26 (46.2%) from three-point range, while the Tigers were 11-for-25 (44.0%).
Valenzuela had 20 points on 7-for-11 shooting, including 4-for-7 from three-point range, with eight rebounds, two assists and a block.
Auburn out-rebounded The Hall, 36-to-34, which included a 13-to-10 edge on the offensive glass and a 12-to-9 advantage in second-chance points.
Catalon had 15 points on the strength of 4-for-6 shooting from three-point range with eight rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Seton Hall was 7-for-10 (70.0%) from the free-throw line, while Auburn was 6-for-12 (50.0%).
Codio had 14 points on the strength of 3-for-4 shooting from three-point range to go with three rebounds and two assists.
Seton Hall forced 17 turnovers, while the Tigers forced 15. The Hall had a 17-to-9 advantage in points-off-turnovers.
Bishop had six points, four rebounds, four assists and was a team-best +14.
Eads had eight points, five rebounds and three assists in only 20 minutes.

TOUGH bucket by Natalia Hall-Rosa!!#HALLin 🏀🏴‍☠️🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/PBfrMbw1Cu
— Seton Hall Women's Basketball (@SHUWBB) December 14, 2025

THE NOTES:

Seton Hall improves to 6-3 overall, while Auburn falls to 8-3.
The Pirates are now 1-1 all-time against the Tigers.
Catalon has now collected at least three steals in all nine games so far this season.
Seton Hall has had a lead at the half in all nine games this season.
Seton Hall improves to 145-57 in home games under head coach Anthony Bozzella, and 76-15 against non-conference opponents in Walsh Gym.
Bishop made her first career start.
Seton Hall's 12 made three-pointers and 46.2 three-point percentage are both season-highs.
Despite the close game, Auburn led for only 21 seconds in the contest.
The Hall improves to a perfect 5-0 when out-shooting its opponent.
Valenzuela reached 20 points for the third time in her career, all this season.

UP NEXT:
Seton Hall will return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 16 when it hosts non-conference foe Washington State in historic Walsh Gymnasium. Tip-time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.