Credit: GR Productions
Pirates Ring in New Year with Monumental Buzzer Beater Win At Villanova, 56-55
Published: Wednesday, January 1, 2025
by Kyle Ferreira
VILLANOVA, PA - The Seton Hall Pirates (11-3) entered 2025 with a sensational road victory over their rivals, the Villanova Wildcats (7-7), 56-55.
The Pirates entered Wednesday’s contest 2-0 in BIG EAST play after convincing wins over Providence and Butler. However, their matchup vs the Wildcats was considered their first real test of conference play. Before Wednesday’s game, the Pirates had not defeated their rivals since February 13th, 2022.
Early on, the momentum was heavily favoring the Pirates. The first quarter saw the Pirates force seven Wildcats turnovers and hold Villanova to 20% from the field. As a result, the score after the first frame was 15-7, Seton Hall.
As the first half progressed, it became clearer that this was Faith Masonius’ night. Masonius led all scorers with 11 points when halftime arrived and felt comfortable down low in the paint. While tons of positives were drawn from their 27-24 lead at the half, the Pirates needed to improve in other aspects.
The Pirates have not been accustomed to having more turnovers than their opponents this season, but the first half was an anomaly for them. The Pirates had nine turnovers to Villanova’s eight, and by the end of the game, the Pirates had 20 for the game. While uncharacteristic for them, the Pirates did not let it distract them from the task at hand: winning against their rival.
The third quarter saw Seton Hall surge with an 7-0 run early to get up to 34-27 with 7:16 remaining in the period. But the competitiveness of the Wildcats, especially that of Bronagh Power-Cassidy, put them up 37-35 with 3:47 left in the third. Yet a buzzer beater at the end of the third by the Pirates’ Joniyah Bland-Fitzpatrick extended their lead and gave them confidence.
In an intense fourth quarter, the Pirates and Wildcats battled tirelessly. Both programs’ freshman standouts, The Hall’s Jada Eads and Nova’s Jasmine Bascoe, led their teams in scoring in the quarter, with four and ten respectively. Eads connected on a three pointer towards the midway point of the final quarter keeping the Pirates in it, down 47-46.
The last five minutes in Finneran Pavilion proved to be chaotic for both squads. Missed opportunities to close it out for Villanova and turnovers by Seton Hall led to a classic finish on New Year’s Day. With six seconds remaining on the clock after two missed free throws by Wildcat Denae Carter, the Pirates pushed up the court, and the ball eventually landed in Masonius’ hands.
After fighting multiple defenders, Masonius released the ball in a reverse-hook fashion, and a New Year’s miracle ushered in 2025 for Seton Hall. At the buzzer, the Pirates officially moved to 3-0 in conference play for the first time since the 2015-2016 season. Additionally, their first-ever game played on January 1st was a success.
The Pirates will return to Walsh Gymnasium Saturday afternoon to take on Georgetown, in hopes of improving to 4-0 in BIG EAST play. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. with Kyle Ferreira and Nick DiBlasi on the call. Pregame coverage starts at 12:30 p.m.
Kyle Ferreira can be reached at kyle.ferreira@student.shu.edu.Posted in: sports,