Coming off their first loss of the season to the Princeton University Tigers, Seton Hall women’s basketball defeated the Butler University Bulldogs, 70-51, in their first conference game at Walsh Gymnasium on Thursday.
Graduate forward Mariana Valenzuela was a key piece to the Pirates’ success, recording a season-high 25 points and 13 rebounds in a dominant double-double performance. After the game, SHU head coach Anthony Bozzella spoke about Valenzuela’s work ethic and how it paid off in a big way for her on the court.
“She works every day,” Bozzella said. “[She] doesn’t say a word. She’s only been here two months … as a person, she’s right up there with all of them [SHU’s previous centers].”
In their BIG EAST opener, efficiency, rebounding, and scoring in transition were the name of the game. Valenzuela was efficient, shooting 73.3% (11-for-15) from the field en route to scoring 25 points. Also making considerable contributions on offense was Savannah Catalon, who dropped 16 points while shooting 80% (4-for-5) from beyond the arc. As a team, the Pirates scored 19 points off turnovers and shot 43.9% from the field as a team.
Coach Bozzella also spoke about the key ingredients to SHU’s success against the Bulldogs.
“The rebound numbers were 45 to 30—we won. Points in the paint were 38 to 20—we won,” Bozzella said. “I think that’s why we were able to take the lead.”
The Pirates held the initiative in the first half behind a strong performance in the paint from Valenzuela. SHU led 29-22 at halftime, with scoring efforts from Valenzuela, who had11 points shooting 62.5% (5-for-8) from the field, and Catalon contributing seven points of her own. Valenzuela also led both teams in rebounds with eight of the team’s 28—which was double that of Butler’s total rebounds.
Valenzuela continued to dominate in the second half, scoring 14 points and getting five more rebounds. Catalon also scored 9 points, including two back-to-back triples from the top of the key. Despite a short drought in the beginning of the second half, SHU held a vice grip on the Bulldogs in the fourth quarter: the team had a 57.9% field goal percentage and was perfect from three. A certain on-the-fly adjustment from the Pirates in the fourth turned out to be fatal for Butler.
“[I] stressed moving the basketball,” Bozzella said. “We played very singularly, not because we were selfish, but because we wanted to win the game. So, I made that [ball movement] clear.”
Another standout in SHU’s win was sophomore guard Ja’Kahla Craft, who was coming off a foot but scored 6 points in the second half—including a buzzer-beater in the third quarter.
“She gave us a great 19 minutes out there,” said Coach Bozzella. “Defensively, I thought she was really good.”
The Pirates will move on to play North Carolina State University on Sunday at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, North Carolina. The teamwide emphasis on rebounding will be key in the upcoming matchup, as NC State boasts the fifth-highest rebounds per game in the NCAA.
Following their trip to Raleigh, the Pirates will return to Walsh on Dec.9 to play the Columbia University Lions in their second game against an Ivy League team.
Christian Hui is the assistant editor of The Setonian’s Sports section. He can be reached at christian.hui@student.shu.edu.
