The Hall saw six players score in double-figures to improve to 3-0 in BIG EAST play
Jan. 3, 2016
Final Stats | Box Score (PDF)
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - The No. 23 Seton Hall women's basketball team won its third-straight to open BIG EAST play with a 99-68 victory over Marquette on Sunday afternoon at Walsh Gymnasium. The Pirates are now off to their best start both in overall record (13-1) and BIG EAST play (3-0) in program history. Tabatha Richardson-Smith (Bay City, Texas) poured in 20 points to lead six members of The Hall scoring in double-figures, a first since the 2008-09 season.
The Pirates exploded out of the gate, scoring the game's first 15 points and holding Marquette scoreless for over five minutes to open the contest. The Hall led by 13 after a quarter and opened up a 52-24 lead at the half in the 31-point win. The 99 points scored by the Pirates mark the most in 2015-16 thanks to a season-best 52.8 percent shooting performance from the floor.
In addition to Richardson-Smith's 20 points, Shakena Richardson (Neptune, N.J.) scored 15 with a game-high eight assists and LaTecia Smith (Gardenia, Calif.) went for a career-best 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the floor. Tiffany Jones (New York, N.Y.) had an 11-point, 12-rebound double-double while Taylor Byrne (Massapequa, N.Y.) and Aleesha Powell (Philadelphia, Pa.) rounded out the Pirates in double-figures.
Turning Point
The Pirates wasted no time jumping ahead, getting back-to-back jumpers from Richardson before Richardson-Smith scored six straight to push the lead to 10-0 and force a Marquette timeout. The Hall would run its early lead to 15-0 and took a 22-9 lead at the end of the first quarter after a buzzer-beating lay-in from Smith to close the first frame.
Head Coach Anthony Bozzella on the result
"I thought the girls came out with a lot of defensive intensity...to hold a team like Marquette to 24 points in the first half and score 52 yourself, you have to be doing a couple things right. I was really proud of these ladies because Marquette is very talented, we came out with a lot of determination and intensity."
Inside The Numbers
- The Pirates scored a season-high 99 points and shot 52.8 percent from the floor, holding Marquette to 33.8 percent from the field and 25.0 percent from 3-point range
- The Hall held a 49-41 rebounding advantage led by 12 from Jones and eight from Richardson-Smith
- SHU blocked 11 shots, led by four from Lubirdia Gordon, while MU did not record a block
- Seton Hall went 5:45 before allowing Marquette to score, jumping out to a 15-0 lead
- The Pirates out-scored the Golden Eagles 56-24 in the paint, 22-6 in points off turnovers and 36-12 in bench points
- The Pirates had runs of 15-0 and 11-0 in the first half
- The Hall's 52-point first half marked the second time it has eclipsed 50 in a half this season (58 vs. Bryant, Nov. 13)
- The Pirates improve to 6-0 this season at Walsh Gym and are 38-6 in their home gym in three seasons under Bozzella
News and Notes
- Tabatha Richardson-Smith moved into sixth-place on The Hall's all-time scoring list with 1,558 career points, tying SHU Hall of Fame member Jodi Brooks
- Richardson-Smith notched her second-straight 20-point game, a first this season. It was her fifth 20-point game of 2014-15 and the 26th of her career
- The Pirates had six players score in double-figures for the first time since Jan. 13, 2009 vs. Syracuse
- The Hall is off to its first 3-0 start to BIG EAST play in program history and its best overall start at 13-1
- All 11 Pirates that saw the floor recorded at least two points
- Tiffany Jones' double-double was her second in three BIG EAST games and her third of the season
Up Next
The Pirates are back at Walsh Gymnasium on Tuesday night for a primetime, nationally-televised showdown with No. 24 DePaul. The rematch of the 2015 BIG EAST Championship game is set for a 7 p.m. tip on FS2.
http://www.shupirates.com/sports/w-baskbl/recaps/010316aaa.html
Jan. 3, 2016
Final Stats | Box Score (PDF)
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - The No. 23 Seton Hall women's basketball team won its third-straight to open BIG EAST play with a 99-68 victory over Marquette on Sunday afternoon at Walsh Gymnasium. The Pirates are now off to their best start both in overall record (13-1) and BIG EAST play (3-0) in program history. Tabatha Richardson-Smith (Bay City, Texas) poured in 20 points to lead six members of The Hall scoring in double-figures, a first since the 2008-09 season.
The Pirates exploded out of the gate, scoring the game's first 15 points and holding Marquette scoreless for over five minutes to open the contest. The Hall led by 13 after a quarter and opened up a 52-24 lead at the half in the 31-point win. The 99 points scored by the Pirates mark the most in 2015-16 thanks to a season-best 52.8 percent shooting performance from the floor.
In addition to Richardson-Smith's 20 points, Shakena Richardson (Neptune, N.J.) scored 15 with a game-high eight assists and LaTecia Smith (Gardenia, Calif.) went for a career-best 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the floor. Tiffany Jones (New York, N.Y.) had an 11-point, 12-rebound double-double while Taylor Byrne (Massapequa, N.Y.) and Aleesha Powell (Philadelphia, Pa.) rounded out the Pirates in double-figures.
Turning Point
The Pirates wasted no time jumping ahead, getting back-to-back jumpers from Richardson before Richardson-Smith scored six straight to push the lead to 10-0 and force a Marquette timeout. The Hall would run its early lead to 15-0 and took a 22-9 lead at the end of the first quarter after a buzzer-beating lay-in from Smith to close the first frame.
Head Coach Anthony Bozzella on the result
"I thought the girls came out with a lot of defensive intensity...to hold a team like Marquette to 24 points in the first half and score 52 yourself, you have to be doing a couple things right. I was really proud of these ladies because Marquette is very talented, we came out with a lot of determination and intensity."
Inside The Numbers
- The Pirates scored a season-high 99 points and shot 52.8 percent from the floor, holding Marquette to 33.8 percent from the field and 25.0 percent from 3-point range
- The Hall held a 49-41 rebounding advantage led by 12 from Jones and eight from Richardson-Smith
- SHU blocked 11 shots, led by four from Lubirdia Gordon, while MU did not record a block
- Seton Hall went 5:45 before allowing Marquette to score, jumping out to a 15-0 lead
- The Pirates out-scored the Golden Eagles 56-24 in the paint, 22-6 in points off turnovers and 36-12 in bench points
- The Pirates had runs of 15-0 and 11-0 in the first half
- The Hall's 52-point first half marked the second time it has eclipsed 50 in a half this season (58 vs. Bryant, Nov. 13)
- The Pirates improve to 6-0 this season at Walsh Gym and are 38-6 in their home gym in three seasons under Bozzella
News and Notes
- Tabatha Richardson-Smith moved into sixth-place on The Hall's all-time scoring list with 1,558 career points, tying SHU Hall of Fame member Jodi Brooks
- Richardson-Smith notched her second-straight 20-point game, a first this season. It was her fifth 20-point game of 2014-15 and the 26th of her career
- The Pirates had six players score in double-figures for the first time since Jan. 13, 2009 vs. Syracuse
- The Hall is off to its first 3-0 start to BIG EAST play in program history and its best overall start at 13-1
- All 11 Pirates that saw the floor recorded at least two points
- Tiffany Jones' double-double was her second in three BIG EAST games and her third of the season
Up Next
The Pirates are back at Walsh Gymnasium on Tuesday night for a primetime, nationally-televised showdown with No. 24 DePaul. The rematch of the 2015 BIG EAST Championship game is set for a 7 p.m. tip on FS2.
http://www.shupirates.com/sports/w-baskbl/recaps/010316aaa.html
