Credit: Ben Soloman
Pirates Pull Off Rally Over Musketeers, 48-40
Published: Sunday, March 9, 2025
by Lauren Reese
UNCASVILLE, CONN. - Despite trailing for 35 minutes, the No. 3 Seton Hall Pirates (21-8, 13-5) fought back and took down the No. 11 Xavier Musketeers (7-24, 1-17) 48-40.
After their worst performance in a quarter this entire season, scoring a season-low 15 points in 20 minutes, the Pirates were unfortunately not unfamiliar with this type of start. Just about a week ago, the two teams squared off in the conference play finale, where their offense was also slow from the beginning.
Looking unsettled and jittery, the Pirates were unable to get any points until six minutes into the quarter, when Savannah Catalon logged some free throws. Too many shots were bouncing off the front rim, and the overall composure was cracking within the Hall. Yaya Lops had the Pirates’ first field goal with 1:30 left in the quarter.
Meanwhile, the Musketeers were finding success offensively all over the court, right from the start. Aizhanique Mayo, Tae’lor Purvis, Petra Oborilova, and Irune Orio all knocked down stepback jumpers, shots from downtown, and easy layups. The quarter ended a bleak 14-5, favoring Xavier.
The second quarter didn’t look too favorable either, as it began with two back-to-back Seton Hall turnovers. The course of the game’s officiating became clear in this frame: the refs were not afraid to swallow their whistles, as well as call charges. Bodies were flying all over the court, with both Pirates and Musketeers players and coaches voicing their frustrations.
The score at the end of 20 was 25-15, yet the stats showed the two teams neck and neck in rebounds (18-18) and turnovers (Xavier had nine, Seton Hall had eight). These two categories would soon begin to blossom for the Pirates in the second half.
Yet the Pirates emerged from the locker room with a newfound sense of intensity, forcing a shot clock violation on the Musketeers’ first possession of the quarter. The suffocating defense that Pirate fans know all too well began to emerge, forcing Xavier into nine turnovers in 10 minutes.
Specifically, leading up to the under-five media timeout of the third quarter, the Pirates converted four out of their last five field goals. A shift in momentum was brewing, courtesy of Lops and Faith Masonius dialing in offensively and defensively. The graduate students each gathered six points just in that frame, guiding the Pirates slowly but surely on the path to victory. The quarter ended 38-31, with Seton Hall looking more alive than previously.
The fourth quarter was where things began to click into place for Seton Hall. A 9-0 run was supported by Masonius, Lops, and Jada Eads; the latter debuted back on the court after missing two games with a lower body injury. After Xavier netted some free throws of their own, Eads’ free throws tied the game up with three minutes remaining.
Lops was in her element as the time began to wind down, intercepting an inbound pass from Mayo and quickly stapling a layup in the same play. The Pirates had finally achieved their first lead of the game, 42-40, and both she and Eads added some late free throws for insurance of a win. The Pirates won 48-40, outscoring the Musketeers by a jaw-dropping 17-2 just in the fourth quarter. That number is the second-fewest by a Seton Hall opponent in a single-quarter in program history.
The Pirates now advance to the BIG EAST Tournament semifinals on Sunday, March 9, squaring against their infamous rival of No. 2 Creighton Bluejays. Tipoff is at 5:00 P.M., with pregame commencing at 4:30. Jack Pine and Lauren Reese will be on the call, with Spencer Gonzales, Brian Henderson, and Michael Federico in studio.
Lauren Reese is an Assistant Sports Director and Web Editor, and can be reached at lauren.reese@student.shu.edu.Posted in: sports,