Credit: GR Productions
#5 UConn Too Much to Handle for Pirates at Home, Drop 91-49
Published: Wednesday, February 19, 2025
by AJ Rayer
SOUTH ORANGE N.J. - Despite keeping it close in the first half, Seton Hall (18-8, 10-5) fell to #5 UConn (25-3, 15-0) at home in a sold-out Walsh Gym, 91-49.
Helped by one of the most electrifying atmospheres the Pirates have played in this year, the Pirates jumped on UConn quickly and got out to a 5-0 lead thanks to a Yaya Lops triple to start the game.
From there, UConn’s high-powered offense led by Paige Bueckers, Sarah Strong and Kaitlyn Chen started firing on all cylinders. The Huskies were getting out in transition and beating the Pirates with their speed and aggressive on-ball defense.
The Pirates closed the first quarter on a short scoring run to bring the game back within seven. They carried that momentum into the second quarter where Lops and Savannah Catalon scored quickly to bring the Pirates within two with 8:50 to play in the 2nd quarter.
Unfortunately for Seton Hall, UConn’s stars took over the game offensively and they never looked back the rest of the way. Bueckers, Strong and Azzi Fudd all led the way for the rest of the quarter and UConn went into the break with a 15-point lead, 41-26.
Out of the half, UConn kept the pressure on the Pirates with a full court press. The Pirates had trouble getting the ball inbounds on several occasions and ran down screens to get their ball handlers open in the backcourt. The Pirates often got into their sets late in the shot clock, and the Huskies forced multiple shot clock violations in the last 20 minutes of play.
The Pirates kept the deficit at 15 until the 6:00 minute mark in the third, when Seton Hall went on a four-minute scoring drought that essentially clinched the win for UConn; the game continued to get out of hand into the fourth quarter. Until the final buzzer, the Huskies were extremely efficient from the field, shooting 63% for the game.
Post game, head coach Geno Auriemma of UConn spoke highly of the five-time BIG EAST Freshman of the Week, Jada Eads.
“She is under the radar; she is very poised when it comes to getting the shot she wants to take. Her confidence rubs off on the rest of the team, she is one of the best young players in the country.”
One of the impact players for the Huskies on Wednesday night was Kaitlyn Chen, who made her return to the Garden State after spending the previous four seasons at Princeton, with 15 points on six-of-seven shooting from the field. Coach Bozzella spoke on Chen's adaptiveness postgame...
“She is willing to be a chameleon and adapt to what they need. She is a really good player, I’m glad she is graduating.”
For the Pirates, both Faith Masonius and Eads finished with 12 points, while Lops led the way with 15. Catalon notably suited up tonight despite dealing with sickness, she contributed four points in 29 minutes.
Looking forward, the Pirates will finish out the conference regular season against St. John’s, DePaul and Xavier, all teams they have beat previously this season. The Pirates will hold third place in the BIG EAST if they go 3-0 in the span of these games.
The Pirates will look to bounce back on Sunday as they will travel to Queens to take on St. John’s. Jackson Shank and C.J. Weipz will have the call live from Carnesecca Arena at 4:30 PM on 89.5 FM WSOU, with pregame coverage starting at 4:00 p.m.
AJ Rayer can be reached at alexander.rayer@student.shu.edu.Posted in: sports,