Pirates Secure Big Road Win Over DePaul

Published: Sunday, February 2, 2025

by Darren Worrell

CHICAGO – The Seton Hall women’s basketball team (16-5, 8-2) maintained its momentum with a 72-55 win over DePaul (11-13, 6-5) on Saturday afternoon at Wintrust Arena. Faith Masonius led the Pirates with 21 points, seven rebounds, three steals, and a block, securing their eighth BIG EAST victory.

Seton Hall entered the game with a clear plan: take care of the ball, force turnovers, and make life difficult for DePaul’s top scorer, Jorie Allen. Head coach Tony Bozzella emphasized that disrupting Allen and controlling the tempo were top priorities, noting that the Pirates needed to win the turnover battle by eight. They didn’t just execute the plan—they dominated it. 

From the opening tip, Seton Hall pressured DePaul into mistakes and controlled the pace. The Pirates forced 18 turnovers while committing only five, completely disrupting DePaul's rhythm. Their biggest defensive statement was limiting Jorie Allen, the BIG EAST's leading scorer, to just 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting.

The first quarter was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading baskets. Just when it seemed the period would end in a tie, Jada Eads hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer, giving the Pirates a 16-13 lead heading into the second quarter.

The second quarter was all Pirates. Seton Hall outscored DePaul 23-13, thanks to Faith Masonius and Savannah Catalon, who combined for 15 points. Masonius with 8, Catalon with 7. The Pirates were aggressive, attacking the rim, getting to the free-throw line, and making the most of their opportunities. 

On the other end, they completely shut down Jorie Allen, holding her scoreless for the entire quarter. While Taylor Johnson Matthews did her best to keep DePaul in it, finishing with a game-high 26 points, the rest of the Blue Demons struggled to generate offense. By halftime, Seton Hall had firm control, forcing 10 turnovers and holding DePaul to just 31.5% shooting.

The Blue Demons came out of the break with a new sense of urgency, and Taylor Johnson-Matthews caught fire. She hit two 3-pointers and scored nine of DePaul’s 19 third-quarter points, leading a 19-11 run that cut Seton Hall’s lead to just seven, 50-43, heading into the fourth quarter.

Just when it looked like DePaul might make things interesting, Seton Hall shut them down completely. The Pirates outscored DePaul 22-10 in the final quarter, with Yaya Lops stepping up in a big way, scoring all seven of her points in the period.

It was a true team effort for Seton Hall. Along with Masonius' dominant game, Jada Eads chipped in 18 points and six rebounds, providing a steady offensive spark. Savannah Catalon added 15 points and eight rebounds, going a perfect 9-for-9 from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, Amari Wright orchestrated the offense beautifully, dishing out a game-high eight assists and finding her teammates in all the right spots.

Seton Hall now turns its focus to Wednesday’s road matchup against Creighton, a rematch of their Jan. 11 game. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., with coverage starting at 6:30 on WSOU. Joe Morales and Jackson Shank will have the call.

Darren Worrell can be reached at darren.worrell@student.shu.edu. 

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