Credit: Kyle Ferreira
Pirates To Battle Bluejays in Omaha
Published: Wednesday, February 5, 2025
by Darren Worrell
OMAHA, NEB. - The Seton Hall Pirates women's basketball team (16-5, 8-2) travels to Omaha, Nebraska, to take on the Creighton Bluejays (18-4,10-1) in a rematch of their Jan. 11 matchup, where they fell 72-64 at historic Walsh Gymnasium. Creighton holds a 21-6 advantage in the all-time series.
Seton Hall comes into this matchup riding a three-game winning streak after taking care of business in Chicago against DePaul, 72-55. Faith Masonius led the charge for the Pirates, scoring 21 points and also grabbing seven boards. Jada Eads had an efficient night with 18 points and six rebounds. Savannah Catalon scored 15 points, pulled down a career high eight rebounds, and went a perfect 9-9 from the free throw line.
On the other hand, Creighton heads into this matchup after a big 79-66 win over Providence. Molly Mogensen led the way for the Bluejays, scoring 17 points while shooting three-of-four from beyond the arc. She grabbed eight rebounds and dished out five assists.
Lauren Jensen and Morgan Maly also made key contributions, finishing with 16 and 13 points, respectively. However, both found themselves in foul trouble with four fouls each. Off the bench, Jayme Horan provided a valuable spark with 16 points, adding depth to Creighton’s offense.
Slowing down Jensen and Maly will be Seton Hall’s biggest challenge in this matchup. Both were named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team and have been scoring at a high level all season. Jensen currently ranks second in the conference with 17.7 points per game. Maly is not far behind, sitting eighth with 16.53 points per game.
Creighton is not a team that relies heavily on inside scoring; almost everyone on the roster is a threat from deep. The Bluejays shoot 37.1% from three as a team, the second-best mark in the BIG EAST. Leading the charge is Maly, who not only leads Creighton, but also leads the entire conference in three-point shooting at an impressive 45.9%.
For Seton Hall to pull off a win, they will need to lock in on a few key areas. Firstly, perimeter defense must be a priority. As mentioned earlier, nearly everyone on this Creighton squad has the green light from deep, so forcing them inside and making them uncomfortable in the paint will be crucial.
Second, the Pirates must disrupt Creighton’s big three of Mogensen, Maly, and Jensen. These three consistently score in double figures, and if Seton Hall can make things difficult for them, they will put themselves in a much better position to win. Letting other players step up is fine, just do not let these three take over the game.
Third, the Pirates need to focus on taking smart shots. No need to force anything, just stick to what is working and play within the flow of the offense.
Lastly, forcing turnovers will be key. Seton Hall ranks second in the BIG EAST in both steals and turnover margin for a reason; leaning into that strength could be the difference-maker in this game.
The Pirates will look to keep their momentum rolling when they take on Creighton. Tipoff is set for 7:00 P.M., with Joe Morales and Jackson Shank on the call for 89.5 FM WSOU. Pregame coverage starts at 6:30 P.M., with CJ Weipz and Kyle Ferreira breaking it all down.
Darren Worrell can be reached at darren.worrell@student.shu.edu.Posted in: sports,