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Preview: Seton Hall Takes On Lehigh in Home Clash

Date: November 15, 2021

By: Joe Cammarota

Seton Hall's Amari Wright celebrates during a women's basketball home game at Walsh Gym.

Seton Hall Athletics

Coming off of a loss to Fordham, the Seton Hall women’s basketball team is back in action today as they take on Lehigh at Walsh Gymnasium tonight at 7 p.m. The Lady Pirates look to bounce back before they head to Cancun for the 2021 Cancun Challenge.

Seton Hall has some lofty expectations this season and will need to bounce back tonight, and they have the players to do it. The Lady Pirates sit at 1-1 and will need their upperclassman to put on a show if they want to beat Lehigh and advance to 2-1.

The two key players for Seton Hall are graduate senior Andra Espinoza-Hunter and junior Lauren Park-Lane. Both Espinoza-Hunter and Park-lane were instrumental for the squad last year, as they both were both top two on the team in scoring with 18.6 and 17.5 points-per-game, respectively.

Espinoza-Hunter was especially dangerous from deep, as she averaged a blistering 39% from behind-the-arc. Park-Lane was efficient in the passing game, as she averaged an efficient 5.3 assists-per-game.

One player to watch for Seton Hall tonight is redshirt senior transfer Sidney Cooks. The center transferred in from Mississippi State and went off in her first game as a Pirate.

Against Fordham, Cooks scored 21 in the losing effort. As she continues to practice and play in real games with her teammates don’t be surprised if she explodes onto the scene as a top player in the Big East.

Turning our attention to the Lady Pirates’ opponent, Lehigh is 2-0 with victories over East Stroudsburg and Saint Peter’s. Lehigh was lead in the two victories by junior guard Frannie Hottinger.

Hottinger pitched in 19 and 22 points in each game respectively, which is a pretty significant jump from her 14.2 points-per-game average of last season. In addition to being able to score, Hottinger holds her own on the glass, as last season she averaged 6.6 rebounds-per-game.

In addition to Hottinger, the Lady Pirates will have to be on the lookout for Lehigh captain, Emma Grothaus. The senior is a team leader and holds her own in the box score as well. The 6-foot-3 forward averaged 11.3 points-per-game last season while also pithing in 6.8 boards-per-night. On defense, Grothaus can be a problem down low, as in her sophomore season, she totaled 23 blocks and 26 steals.

With Grothaus inside, don’t be surprised if the Pirates try early and often from deep. They have the shooters to be able to do it and would be avoiding a big-time defensive player inside. If Seton Hall does get consistent from behind-the-arc, don’t be surprised if they stick with the strategy all game.

In addition, to being efficient from three, Seton Hall must player better defense. Lehigh has some scorers, and if they get going, it could be a long night for the Lady Pirates.

Be sure to tune into 89.5 FM WSOU to hear all the action, with Joe Matthews and Will Swankie on the call.

Joe Cammarota can be reached at joseph.cammarota@student.shu.edu.

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

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