WSOU

Preview: Pirates Face Xavier in Home Friday Matchup

Date: February 3, 2022

By: Joe Walls

Seton Hall women's basketball teammates celebrate on the court during a home game.

Kayla Fonseca/WSOU Sports

After a big victory in Walsh Gym against Georgetown on Wednesday, the Seton Hall women’s basketball team (9-10, 4-7 conference) is set to take on the Xavier Musketeers (7-13, 2-9 conference) once again at home to try and even out their overall record, as well as get back-to-back Big East wins.

The Pirates have had a rocky road the past couple of weeks, going two of their last four. However, that does not mean that there have not been amazing performances from different members of this team.

The Pirates have had standout performances from the likes of Sidney Cooks, who had an outstanding 32 points in a 20-point loss to DePaul on Sunday. Add to that big games coming from the Seton Hall superstar duo of Lauren Park-Lane and Andra Espinoza-Hunter, with Park-Lane dropping 20 against the Hoyas on Wednesday and Espinosa-Hunter dropping 25 on that same night.

This game, in addition to the Pirates setting a new program and Big East record for threes made in a single game against Georgetown (19), could help spark that comeback from something many Seton Hall teams of years past have dealt with, which some have coined the “January Blues,” where the Pirates seem to struggle in the late goings of January, but then go on to have a phenomenal month of February.

On the other side of the court are the 7-13 Xavier Musketeers, who saw their home game flip flop to an away game in South Orange, N.J. The Musketeers of Ohio have also had it tough as of late, dropping three of their last four to the likes of St. John’s, Villanova, and DePaul.

Two players on the Musketeers who the Pirates should look to lock down in Walsh Gym include Nia Clarke, who had good performances against Villanova and Georgetown, as well as Ayanna Townsend, who had standout games in the Musketeers’ losses to St. John’s and DePaul.

That is one thing that the Pirates have been good at all season whenever they are on a roll. Lockdown defense has been common for this team with the likes of Katie Armstrong and other strong backcourt defenders. As long as the Pirates keep their stars surging and the opposing team on the back foot, we should see another notch in the win column to begin another long month of Seton Hall women’s basketball.

The Seton Hall women's basketball team's starting five stand on the Walsh Gym floor.

Kayla Fonseca/WSOU Sports

Once again the Pirates look to defend the home court at 1 p.m. here in South Orange, N.J. and catch the game live on 89.5 FM WSOU with Liam Plate and Michael Stamm on the call.

Joe Walls can be reached at joseph.walls@student.shu.edu.

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

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