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Recap: Pirates make it 3 in a row with blowout win over Butler

Date: January 17, 2021

By: Madi Travisano

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Seton Hall Athletics

Seton Hall Women’s Basketball continued their homestand with a win against the Butler Bulldogs with a final score of 83-68.  This matchup started very differently than most people were expecting from the last time these two teams faced off. Right from the start Butler made sure this was going to be an offensive game by getting the first points on the board.

 

However, with back-to-back three pointers from Lauren Park-Lane and Mya Jackson, it soon became an offensive back and forth. Butler was holding their own, but the powerhouse offense of the Pirates led by Andra Espinoza-Hunter continued to grow their led to 26-13.

  

Butler’s Okako Adika once again showed how she is the offensive threat for the Bulldogs. In the second quarter she stepped on both sides of the ball to keep them in the game. This led the Pirates to enter into a bit of a scoring drought and struggle on defense as well. Butler stepped up to make nine turnovers by the Pirates into points and their offensive energy seemed to catch the Pirates off guard.

Yet that all changed after halftime. The Hall came out of the locker room with a new defensive strategy that stopped the offensive battle of the first half. Alexia Allesch stepped up for the Pirates in the third quarter having the offense really being run through her. She was making shots from behind the arc as well as driving to the basket. Allesch ended the day with 11 points before fouling out.

 

Going to the fourth, the Bulldogs trailed by nearly 20 points but weren’t giving up the fight. Yet the Pirates built up their lead and Butler just couldn’t catch up. Once again, Espinoza-Hunter proved her offensive dominance by leading everyone in scoring with 25 points. She was six for seven from behind the arc to go along with eight rebounds on the day.

 

When asked about her coach Tony Bozzella said, “She comes in, she’s got a great attitude. It says a lot about our team and our team chemistry that we know we can add a good player. I give the girls on our team credit and I give Andra credit she came in, she didn’t demand anything, she’s worked really hard, she earned her starting spot.”

Desiree Elmore didn’t start today but it seems like she is becoming the sixth man the Pirates need. We saw her come off the bench and bring new energy to both the offense and defense. She had 18 points to go along with five rebounds and was able to help the Pirates on both sides of the ball and will be most likely to keep splitting her time with sophomore Mya Bembry.

 

Seton Hall will continue their homestand as they take on St. John’s this Wednesday, Jan. 20. Wilnir Louis and Heaven Hill we be on the call so make sure to tune in to 89.5 FM WSOU for a 1:00 p.m. tip-off time.

Madi Travisano can be reached at madisyn.travisano@student.shu.edu.

Posted in: Sports, Women's Basketball

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