Credit: GR Productions
Pirates Throttle Friars in Sunday Matinee 59-38
Published: Sunday, February 16, 2025
by Jackson Shank
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - The Seton Hall Pirates (18-7, 10-4) took home their 10th conference win, defeating the Providence Friars (11-17, 4-11) 59-38 on the road.
From the jump, Seton Hall was in their bag defensively, forcing their 13th opponent to turn the ball over more than 20 times in a game; they created 22 today. The Pirates would turn that into 24 points in transition, outscoring Providence in all but the fourth quarter in which they were even 11-11. Formidable defense from the jump earned the Pirates the season sweep over the home team.
The identity that head coach Tony Bozzella and the Pirates have created allows them to completely dismantle a team’s game plan. Their team defense forced Providence to shoot a season low 26 percent from the floor and a measly three of 20 from beyond the arch.
There is no escape from the Pirates' grasp once they hook their opponent in. Grace Ephosa, the leading scorer for the Friars in their last head-to-head matchup who had 20 points, shot 0-7 from the field; Seton Hall’s defense completely eliminated their biggest threat.
The story of today’s game offensively did not come from one individual, but the bench for Seton Hall, as they contributed with 14 points. Moreover, eight different Pirates found their way into the scoring column. Specifically, graduate student Ramani Parker added a season-best nine points.
While at times they lacked cohesion, this team style of basketball was absent in the first meeting between these two. Just three Pirates found a way to score in their matchup with Providence last December. Struggling to come up with a recipe for team success in the final month of regular season play, the Pirates adapted.
What was meant to happen in December happened today, and Seton Hall remains in third place in the BIG EAST. How can they give the committee a reason to send them to the Big Dance in March? The answer is simple: get healthy and keep this style of basketball up against the top end of the conference.
With multiple days to rest ahead, Savannah Catalon and Yaya Lops should recover from their difficulty with illness since their matchup with Creighton. Additionally, Parker will continue to get closer to 100 percent since coming back from injury.
In addition, a contribution from the bench and an elevation of play from the standout starters once could propel change of what is “meant to happen” in their matchups ahead with UConn and in the BIG EAST Tournament. A change of fortune could give them a shot to play in the NCAA tournament for the first time in nine seasons.
Jackson Shank can be reached at jackson.shank@student.shu.edu.Posted in: sports,