Preview: Pirates Face Toledo in Second Game of 2021 Cancun Challenge

Date: November 25, 2021

By: Jorie Mickens

Seton Hall Athletics

After dropping their first game of the 2021 Cancun Challenge to the University of Southern California on Thanksgiving, the Seton Hall’s women’s basketball team returns to action Friday as they face the Toledo Rockets at 4 p.m.

Wednesday practice underway…#HALLin #cancunchallenge ‍☠️ pic.twitter.com/ZvoS76nyCZ

— Seton Hall Women’s Basketball (@SHUWBB) November 24, 2021

The Pirates are 0-1 all-time against the Rockets, as the last and only time these two teams faced one another was in 2019, when the Pirates fell 71-68 to Toledo.

Seton Hall enters this matchup with a 2-2 overall record, on the heels of a 79-65 loss to USC. It was arguably their poorest performance of the season, as in the 14-point loss, the team totaled just one bench point and shot 35% from the field, their lowest mark of the season.

The Pirates will need a bounce back performance from Preseason All-Big East selection Andra Espinoza-Hunter, who finished with just 10 points on 11% shooting from the field in the loss to the Trojans.

FINAL | USC 79, Pirates 65

Cooks finished with a game-high 21 points. Park-Lane had 17 points, seven assists and five steals. Jackson had 16 points on the strength of four made three-pointers.

The Hall will be back at it tomorrow when it faces Toledo in Cancun.#HALLin pic.twitter.com/f2aFfHhA9K

— Seton Hall Women’s Basketball (@SHUWBB) November 25, 2021

Toledo, on the other hand, enters this game with a 3-1 overall record, coming off a 79-58 victory over Idaho State.

The Rockets were projected to finish eighth in the Mid-America Conference this season, and they’re led by Quinesha Lockett, who was selected to the Preseason All-MAC Second Team prior to the start of this season.

On the year, Lockett is averaging a 23.0 points-per-game, which is tied for first in the MAC conference this season, while shooting 53% from three-point territory. Her 16 three-point field goals this season also ranks first in the MAC conference.

Rockets Win!

Spending Thanksgiving in paradise is even better when you end the day with a W pic.twitter.com/T1MvpggOJU

— Toledo Women's Basketball (@ToledoWBB) November 26, 2021

The Pirates will also have their hands full slowing down first-year player Jessica Cook, who ranks second on the team in scoring (12.3) and first in rebounding (7.3) this season.

Seton Hall will look to secure their first victory against the Rockets at 4 p.m. down in Cancun, Mexico before heading back to South Orange, N.J. Be sure to tune into 89.5 FM WSOU at 4 p.m. as the legendary duo of Wilnir Louis and Heaven Hill will be on the call.

Jorie Mickens is an Assistant Sports Director for WSOU Sports and can be reached at jorie.mickens@student.shu.edu.

Posted in: Game Previews, Sports, Women's Basketball