WSOU

Pirates Dominate Defensively in Season Opening Victory

Date: November 10, 2017

By: Chris Schweitzer

Seton Hall Women's Basketball won their first game of the season by a score of 91-49 over the Saint Peter's Peacocks.

The Pirates started the first quarter very slow and didn't make their first basket from the floor until the 4:35 mark in the first quarter. With a slow start, the team looked to Senior JaQuan Jackson to get the team going and she made three consecutive baskets, including two threes to propel the Pirates into the lead. The first of those three baskets was a three pointer, which also were Jackson's 1,000th career point. After a three from Kaela Hilaire, the Pirates were able to finish the first quarter leading 16-10. Taylor Brown said after the game that the team didn't want to let Saint Peter's hang around too long.

"We realized we had to pick the defense up," Brown said.

Newcomer Donnaizha Fountain struggled much of the first quarter, but got more comfortable and led the Pirates in scoring in the second quarter. She put up nine points for the Pirates in the second quarter and helped on both ends of the floor to lead the Pirates into half leading 40-25.

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(Photo: SHU Athletics)

Despite only shooting 33% compared to Saint Peter's 42.3% in the first half, Seton Hall led by 15 in large part due to the Pirates aggressiveness on defense. Seton Hall pressed far up court all game and were able to force 20 turnovers in the first half alone. After the game Coach Bozzella expressed his happiness with the defensive effort.

"That's how we're going to play, we're going to get up and force turnovers," Coach Bozzella said.

In the third quarter, the Pirates were really able to build their lead up big and make things easier on themselves. With 6:55 left in the third quarter, the Pirates led 51-32, but by the 2:44 mark in the third quarter they had gone on a 13-0 run and led Saint Peter's 64-32. Seton Hall would finish the third quarter after scoring 29 points and leading 69-38.

Despite leading big entering the fourth quarter, Seton Hall didn't let up with their defensive intensity. They forced five turnovers in the final quarter and allowed only 11 points while they scored another 22 to finish the game with a win by a score of 91-49.

With many new faces on the team and big shoes to fill with some of the departures from last season, Coach Bozzella looked towards graduate student Donnaizha Fountain to fill in at the forward position. Fountain rewarded Bozzella's trust with a big performance scoring 22 points and grabbing six rebounds.

"This is the first time in my collegiate career where I felt my coach had as much confidence in me as Coach Bozzella has," Fountain said. She also said the players feed off the coaches and the trust they have in their players.

The Women's Basketball team plays their next game on Sunday, November 12 at 2 P.M. as they take on Wake Forest. Tune into wsou.net for coverage of the game.

 

Chris Schweitzwer can be reached at christopher.schweitzer@student.shu.edu.

Posted in: Sports, WSOU

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