Pirates Dominate Exhibition Against Jefferson, 87-61

Published: Saturday, November 2, 2024

by Kyle Ferreira

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. — The Seton Hall women's basketball team unofficially opened its season Saturday afternoon with a dominant exhibition performance, defeating Jefferson University 87-61.

Seton Hall head coach Tony Bozzella has consistently echoed throughout the offseason that this is one of the best squads he has had. With new additions and returning players, the exhibition game against Jefferson was a chance to see how they would blend on the court. Their performance on Saturday should bring optimism to fans in South Orange.

From the opening tip, the Pirates surged ahead, jumping to an 8-0 lead in under two minutes. Defensively, they made it nearly impossible for the Rams to shoot, pass, or maintain possession, creating a nightmare scenario for their opponent.

The Pirates' offensive chemistry was evident early as they took a 52-24 lead at halftime. Faith Masonius, Savannah Catalon, and Amari Wright played cohesively, with Wright dishing out seven assists. Catalon and Masonius scored efficiently, shooting 58.3% and 62.5%, respectively, for the game.

One of the biggest highlights of the game was the three-point shooting. While the first half left much to be desired, the Pirates found their rhythm from beyond the arc in the second, shooting an impressive 44.4% from the perimeter. One player, in particular, stood out in this performance.

Nicole Melious, one of Bozzella’s key offseason additions from the transfer portal, took control from beyond the arc. Every shot she attempted was a three-pointer, and she proved lethal from long range. Melious finished 5-for-11 from three, scoring 15 points and adding four rebounds.

Notably, during halftime, the men's basketball team was honored for its 2024 NIT Championship as its banner was raised to the rafters.

The game was a solid test for the Pirates, as the Rams did not back down. Despite the final score, Jefferson brought a talented squad fresh off its first 30-plus-win season in school history. Jefferson’s star player, Sam Yencha, held her own against a competitive Pirates team.

Overall, the Pirates emerged victorious and maintained dominance from start to finish. They hustled for every loose ball, applied strong pressure on the Rams, and communicated effectively. Even with new players in the lineup, the team looked confident and played well together.

Saturday afternoon showcased an impressive all-around performance for Seton Hall, as it led in key statistics like steals (11), rebounds (39), and assists (25). Now, all eyes are on their season and home opener Thursday night at Walsh Gymnasium.

The Pirates will officially begin their 2024-25 campaign against the Wagner Seahawks, looking to build on Saturday’s performance. The game will be broadcast live on 89.5 FM WSOU, with pregame coverage starting at 6:45 p.m. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m., featuring Victor Gonzalez and Chris Jones on the call.

Kyle Ferreira can be reached at kyle.ferreira@student.shu.edu. 

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