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Preview: Seton Hall plays second straight home game as they host Wagner

Date: December 10, 2020

By: Ben Harris

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@SHUWBB via Twitter

Coming off of their dominant 107-60 season-opening victory over Saint Peter’s, the Seton Hall women’s basketball team looks to carry that level of high-scoring dominance into Friday’s matchup with Wagner.

 

Both teams have had turbulent starts to their respective seasons, with each having their schedules affected by COVID-related challenges. That being said, this will be the Wagner Seahawks’ season opener, having had their back-to-back games against Sacred Heart postponed to late January. The Pirates are seemingly out of the woods with their COVID issues, finally being able to get in a game after initially being forced to cancel their first three games and postpone two more. One of the three cancelled games was the opener against Saint Peter’s, which ultimately just ended up being rescheduled to Dec. 8, when the Pirates earned their first win of the season.

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@setonhallwbb via Instagram

The Pirates looked more than efficient in their season opener, scoring bucket after bucket and tying the team’s single-game points record in the 107-60 victory over the Peacocks. Four Pirates scored in double-figures, and the bench got plenty of playing time in the blowout. Desiree Elmore and Victoria Keenan topped Seton Hall’s scoring column, scoring 25 and 21, respectively.

 

Elmore had an incredible all-around performance, pulling down seven rebounds and contributing defensively with three blocks and a steal. Sophomore floor general Lauren Park-Lane also impressed, dropping 18, dishing out seven assists, and swiping away three steals.

Wagner will likely be facing an uphill battle against Seton Hall for their season debut. The Seahawks have been projected to finish sixth in the Northeast Conference coming off of a rough 10-20 result to their last season. On the bright side, three starters have returned to Grymes Hill, so they have a depth of experience to lean on during this so-far dysfunctional season.

 

One of those starters happens to be junior forward Emilija Krista Grava, who was just named to the Preseason All-NEC Team. This comes after an impressive 2019-20 season where she led the Seahawks in points, rebounds, and field goal percentage. Her 16 points-per-game ranked second in the Northeast Conference.

Having last faced off in the early stages of the 2018 season, both of these squads look and play much differently since their last meeting. That being said that last meeting resulted in a one-sided 95-40 Pirates victory. Historically, the Pirates are heavy favorites considering they have not lost to Wagner since the 1986 season. However, considering that this is a season characterized by unpredictability, the early-season inexperience of both squads could easily lead to a more competitive matchup.

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@wagnerwhoops via Instagram

The game will tip off on Friday, Dec. 11 at 7:00 p.m. inside a spectator-less Walsh Gymnasium. 89.5 FM WSOU, your flagship station for Seton Hall women’s hoops, will bring you the action for this game and all season long. The profound broadcasting duo of Liam Plate and Heaven Hill are on the call for this matchup, with Michael Daly’s pre-game coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m. The Pirates and Seahawks will each look to grab a valuable early season win in this exciting Friday night matchup.

Ben Harris can be reached at benjamin.harris@student.shu.edu.

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

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