Pirates Fall Short to Marquette Despite Eads' 26 Points, 68-61

Published: Thursday, February 13, 2025

by Darren Worrell

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ – The Seton Hall Pirates (17-7, 9-4) put up a fight but could not overcome foul trouble and Marquette’s (16-8, 8-5) dominance inside, falling short 68-61 at Walsh Gymnasium on Wednesday night. Jada Eads put on a show, dropping 26 points with three rebounds and an assist. Kaydan Lawson chipped in 10 points, three boards, and one assist in her first Seton Hall start.

There was a big surprise before tipoff. Savannah Catalon, who set a program record with 11 steals in the previous matchup, was ruled out with the flu. That meant it was next woman up, and graduate forward Lawson stepped into the starting five for the first time in her career.

The Pirates got off to a rough start, allowing Marquette to race out to a 10-0 lead in the first four minutes. But Eads single-handedly kept Seton Hall in it, scoring the team’s next 10 points. She finished the first quarter with 12 of the Pirates 14 points, helping cut the deficit to just two at the buzzer. However, turnovers were a problem early, with miscommunication and poor positioning leading to unnecessary mistakes.

The second quarter followed a similar chain of events. Marquette leaned on its size, outscoring Seton Hall 24-10 in the paint. But the Pirates responded with more energy, led by Yaya Lops, Eads, and graduate student Ramani Parker. Just before the break, Eads nailed a clutch buzzer-beating three, her second of that caliber of the season, to tie the game at 30 heading into halftime.

The third quarter was a back-and-forth battle until the final two minutes, when Seton Hall’s foul trouble started to take over. The Pirates racked up seven fouls in the quarter and committed 16 in the second half alone. You could see the frustration on the court and even on the bench; Marquette capitalized on free throws and second-chance opportunities, pulling ahead by eight heading into the fourth.

The Pirates made a late push, cutting the deficit to five after a deep three from Lops, but Marquette never let them get any closer. The Golden Eagles continued to dominate inside, taking full advantage of Seton Hall’s foul trouble. Lee Volker led the way for Marquette with 24 points and seven rebounds, while Halle Vice posted a double-double with 19 points and 13 boards.

Seton Hall fought hard, but the foul trouble in the third quarter shifted momentum and proved too much to overcome, as they fell 68-61. Now, the Pirates turn their attention to Sunday’s matchup against Providence, where they will look to complete the season sweep. Jack Pine and Miguel Freire will have the call on 89.5 FM WSOU.

Darren Worrell can be reached at darren.worrell@student.shu.edu. 

 

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