Pirates Look to Bounce Back in SEC Challenge against Auburn

Published: Sunday, December 14, 2025

by Caitlin Barrar

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – The Seton Hall Pirates (5-3) are looking to get back into the win column as they take on the Auburn Tigers (8-2) on Sunday afternoon in Walsh Gymnasium.

The Pirates endured their third loss of the season and find themselves on a two-game losing streak after a tough loss to Columbia Tuesday night. In that one, Seton Hall was ahead for almost the entire game but could never pull away as Columbia put up a fight and went on multiple momentum shifting runs.

The team shot just 24% and surrendered 18 points in the paint in the second half. However, they were able to win the rebounding battle which was headlined by Jordana Codio and Mariana Valenzuela, who had ten apiece.

Savannah Catalon led the team in scoring with 16 points to go along with her five rebounds, five steals, and two three-pointers. Catalon continues to shine on both ends of the floor for this Pirates team, leading them in points per game with 14.6 and steals per game with 3.5.

Going into the final seconds of the game, the Pirates had the ball following a challenge by Coach Bozzella. Jada Eads, who finished the game with 15 points and nine boards, missed the go-ahead shot with nine seconds left. Columbia regained possession and was able to get a shot off that sealed the Pirates fate.

Seton Hall now finds themselves facing a tough SEC matchup in Auburn. The Tigers are coming into South Orange off their own two-game losing streak following a 66-60 overtime defeat against Syracuse.

Freshman guard Harissoum Coulibaly, who came away with 17 points on 8-12 shooting from the floor against Syracuse, leads the team in points per game and does it coming off the bench.

This is the first meeting between the Pirates and the Tigers in 15 years. They last played in two neutral-site games where Auburn took both of the matchups. Auburn is 19-10 all-time against Big East opponents.

The Pirates will have to protect the ball in this one as Auburn averages 12.7 steals per game, spearheaded by junior guard Kaitlyn Duhon, and ranks 16th nationally in scoring defense. The Tigers gathered 15 steals versus Syracuse and held them to zero baskets from beyond the arc.

Yet, with Auburn prone to their fair share of turnovers, Seton Hall has a chance to put its defensive identity front and center in this matchup. All signs point to Catalon and the Pirates’ defense having a chance to dictate the game and apply constant pressure on Auburn’s ball handlers.

But winning the rebounding battle could be just as critical as forcing turnovers in a game that figures to be decided by execution.

The Pirates will look to right the ship in one of their final non-conference matchups of the season before diving into Big East competition. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 P.M. with Joe Morales and Chris Heite on the call, and all the action can be heard on 89.5 FM WSOU.

Caitlin Barrar can be reached at caitlin.barrar@student.shu.edu 

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