Lops, Pirates Run Away from Xavier Late, 48-40 - Seton Hall University Athletics
The Seton Hall women's basketball team out-scored Xavier, 17-to-2, in the fourth quarter to rally for a 48-40 victory over 11-seeded Xavier in the quarterfin...
30. Seton Hall 48, Xavier 40 (F) WBB Box Score - Seton Hall University Athletics
30. Seton Hall 48, Xavier 40 (F) WBB Box Score
UNCASVILLE, CONN. – The Seton Hall women's basketball team out-scored Xavier, 17-to-2, in the fourth quarter to rally for a 48-40 victory over 11-seeded Xavier in the quarterfinals of the 2025 BIG EAST Tournament on Saturday.
For fans of offensive basketball, the first half was not for the faint of heart. The Pirates scored a season-low 15 points and was just 4-for-26 from the floor in the first 20 minutes. The Hall took advantage late, however, and the Pirates' press forced 10 Musketeer turnovers in the fourth quarter. Seton Hall held Xavier without a made field goal for the entire fourth.
Graduate student Yaya Lops (Stamford, Conn.) played one of her best games in a Seton Hall uniform, finishing with 12 points, eight rebounds and three steals, but it was her defensive intensity down the stretch that spearheaded the Pirates' rally. Her steal and score with 1:41 left in the game gave The Hall its first lead of the game.
Faith Masonius (Spring Lake, N.J.) finished with 12 points, eight rebounds, four steals and two blocks, while Savannah Catalon (Mansfield, Texas) logged nine points and a career-high nine rebounds.
THE STORY:
Similar to last week's game against Xavier, the Pirates started very cold from the field shooting the ball. The Pirates missed their first 11 shots as Xavier built a 14-2 lead. The Pirates didn't get their first made field goal until Lops hit a layup off a pretty feed from Messiah Hunter (Hopewell, Va.) with 1:39 left in the first. The Pirates finished 1-for-15 from the field in the first 10 minutes and were down 14-5 entering the second quarter.
Seton Hall wasn't much better in the second quarter and finished with a season-low 15 points in the first half. The Pirates were 4-for-26 from the floor in the first 20 minutes and trailed by 10 at the break.
Trailing 38-29 with 42 seconds left in the third, the Pirates went on a 9-0 run, including the first seven points of the fourth quarter to tie the game, 38-38, with 5:29 left. After a pair of made Xavier free throws put the Musketeers back in front, two Jada Eads (Orlando, Fla.) free throws tied the game again with 2:47 remaining. With 1:41 to go, Lops intercepted an inbound pass and raced in for a layup to give the Pirates their first lead of the game, 42-40. Six made free-throws in the final minute in a half iced the game for Seton Hall.
THE NUMBERS:
- Seton Hall was 13-for-53 (24.5%) from the floor for the game, while Xavier was 16-for-43 (37.2%). The Hall was 1-for-10 (10.0%) from three-point range, while the Musketeers were 6-for-19 (31.6%).
- Lops had 12 points on 4-for-9 shooting to go with eight rebounds and three steals
- The Hall out-rebounded Xavier, 34-to-31, which included a 12-to-2 edge on the offensive glass and a 6-to-0 advantage in second-chance points.
- Masonius tallied 12 points with eight rebounds, four steals, two assists and two blocks.
- Seton Hall was 21-for-26 (80.8%) from the free-throw line, while Xavier was 2-for-4 (50.0%).
- Catalon had nine points and a career-high nine rebounds.
- Seton Hall forced 28 turnovers, while the Musketeers forced 15. The Hall had a 24-to-6 advantage in points-off-turnovers.
- Eads finished with 10 points and two steals.
- Seton Hall improves to 22-8 overall and advances to the BIG EAST Tournament semifinals, while Xavier falls 7-24 and is eliminated from the tournament.
- Seton Hall improves to 24-3 all-time against the Musketeers and has won 14 straight games in the series.
- For the fifth time in the last six years, The Hall won its first game at the BIG EAST Tournament.
- The Pirates collected at least 10 steals for the 20th time this season.
- It's the 24th time in 30 games that the Pirates have forced more turnovers than their opponent.
- Seton Hall forced at least 20 turnovers today for the 16th time this season.
- With a steals today Amari Wright (Jacksonville, Fla.) moved into a tie with former Pirate Leslie Chavies for sixth place on Seton Hall's career list with 212.
- Xavier is Seton Hall's 16th opponent held to 55 points or fewer this season. The Pirates are a perfect 16-0 in those games.
- Xavier's two points in the fourth quarter are the second-fewest by a Seton Hall opponent in a single-quarter in program history.
- Xavier's 40 points are the second-fewest scored by a Seton Hall opponent in a BIG EAST Tournament game.
Seton Hall will advance to the BIG EAST Tournament semifinals on Sunday and face No. 2 Creighton at 5:00 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on FOX. As always, 89.5 FM WSOU or wsou.net will also carry the contest.
