The Pirates fall to Georgia Tech, 79-54, in Junkanoo Jam

Date: November 29, 2019

By: Ronny Castaneda

The Seton Hall Pirates were not able to keep up the offense and defense of Georgia Tech, as they fell 79-54 to the Yellow Jackets.

Pirates had to settle for another game without their Big East pre-season player of the year as she still nurses a Hamstring injury suffered against It was going to be a true test for the Pirates after coming off a loss to Lehigh. Selena Philoxy was awarded her first start of the season as she hoped to add a presence down low to combat the Yellow Jackets size inside.

It was a defensive battle from opening tip for both teams. A Desiree Elmore jumper would give the pirates their only lead of the game early in the first. Both teams shot 5-16 in the first, but Georgia Tech came out on top 14-11 The second quarter saw a closer battle from both teams. Georgia Tech built up a nine-point lead halfway through, but a pair of threes from Alexis Lewis brought the pirates back into it at 27-24. The halftime buzzer would sound with Tech on top 29-25.

Barbara Johnson would hit the first basket of the second half. But Georgia Tech would answer with a pounding 9-0 run. Seton Hall would try their best to claw back into it, but they would see a single-digit lead for the rest of the game. The final quarter would start with the Yellow Jackets having a commanding 51-41 lead.

By the time the fourth came around both Philoxy and Elmore had gotten into foul trouble. Nonetheless, the Yellow Jackets had already cemented a dominating lead that the Pirates could not come back from. A last second lay-up from Alexia Allesch would soften the blow, but not enough as they would lose by 25. Elmore and Lewis were the only Pirates to end in double-figures with 14 points. Selena Philoxy stepped up in the rebound column as well, racking up 12.

For Georgia Tech, they continue to show their impressive defense, holding the pirate to 33% field goal percentage. As a team they also gathered seven steals and force 19 turnovers. Pan continued her impressive scoring with 16 points going 8/13 from the field. Both Cubaj and Fletcher continued to show their power on the board while leading the team in assists as well with seven and four, respectively.

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

Posted in: Sports, WSOU, Women's Basketball