Game preview: Seton Hall begins Big East play against Butler on the road

Date: December 28, 2019

By: Ronny Castaneda

The Seton Hall women’s basketball team will return from their holiday break and jump straight into Big East play, as they travel to Indianapolis, Indiana, to take on the Butler Bulldogs.

In their last game, Seton Hall (7-4 overall) had a field day vs Lafayette, as four Pirates ended up in double digits. The Hall also had a huge spark off the bench, as Femi Funeus made her season debut after an injury cut her season short a year ago. Funeus, who was set to have an impressive freshman season, now has the chance to continue that stride as a sophomore, after she recorded 10 points and two rebounds in 10 minutes of play.

Shadeen Samuels has also been taking strides after returning from a hamstring injury that sidelined her for about a month. In her first three games back she’s been averaging 16 points and 5.6 rebounds. Desiree Elmore is continuing to play tremendous basketball, after stepping in the absence of Samuels.

On the other side of the ball, Butler (8-3 overall) has only traveled out of Indiana three times this season. After being picked to finish in the bottom half of the Big East, the Bulldogs have proved to be a force win their non-conference play, including a valiant effort vs No. 12 Indiana.

Taking a look at the Bulldogs, they have a two-headed monster manning the backcourt as Kristen Spolyar and Genesis Parker are the leading scorers, averaging 19 and 13.4 respectively. The Bulldogs also have four players shooting above 40% from the field, including senior forward Shae Brey who’s shooting a team high 48.4%.

Brey and Spolyar have been forces to be reckoned with offensively. Brey is also dishing out a team high in assists with 2.5 a game and Spolyar is collecting a team high 6.4 rebounds a game.

On the defensive side of the ball, Oumou Toure has been making a name for herself, averaging a team high 1.1 blocks and 2.5 steals a game. As a team. Butler turns the ball over 18 times a game and allow for 20.6 points off of those turnovers. The Bulldogs also shoot a combined 40% from the field and are a solid 70% at the free throw line. The Pirates force opponents to 21.4 turnovers a game and score an average of 20.8 points off of those turnovers. The rebounding battle is equal with both teams averaging 37 boards a game.

Expect steals and fast-break points to huge for both teams in the Big East opener. The action will tip-off at 2 p.m., make sure you tune in to WSOU as Rich Behan and Mat Mlodzinski will have the call from Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Ronny Castaneda can be reached at ronald.castaneda@student.shu.edu.

Posted in: Sports, WSOU, Women's Basketball