SHU’s women's basketball used a strong second half to defeat the Providence Friars (10-11,3-7 BIG EAST) 73–57 on Tuesday night at Walsh Gymnasium, continuing a strong stretch of conference play. The win improved the Pirates to 14–5 overall and 8–2 in BIG EAST action. They also have won four-straight games and remain dominant at home, moving to 9–1 at Walsh Gym this season.
The first half was a back-and-forth fight, with neither team able to gain much separation. Providence matched SHU’s energy early and kept the score tight. At halftime, the Pirates held a 28–26 lead after trading baskets throughout the opening 20 minutes.
But SHU took full control coming out of the locker room. The Pirates exploded in the third quarter, outscoring Providence 30–18 to turn a close game into a comfortable lead for The Hall. SHU pushed the pace, attacked the basket and capitalized at the free-throw line. Defensively, the Pirates tightened up, forcing turnovers and limiting Providence’s scoring chances, as the Friars took only 11 total shots in the third quarter.
Starting point guard Jada Eads remained sidelined after suffering a season-ending lower-body injury during Seton Hall’s win over DePaul last Saturday. Eads went down early in that game and was later ruled out for the remainder of the season. On Tuesday night, she was seen on the bench wearing a brace on her left leg, actively cheering on her teammates and staying engaged from the sidelines as the Pirates earned another conference win.
Savannah Catalon once again led the way for SHU. Fresh off being named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll last week, Catalon delivered another great performance. The junior guard finished with 19 points, four steals, and was once again perfect from the free-throw line, going 8-for-8, showing continued confidence at the stripe.
With Jada Eads out for the rest of the season, senior guard Shailyn Pinkney will take on a bigger role in the backcourt, and she showed signs of that against Providence. Pinkney played a season-high 34 minutes and finished with nine assists, doing a strong job of running the offense and finding open teammates. Pinkney’s ability to set up her teammates will be key as the Pirates adjust to life without their starting point guard.
The Pirates now turn their attention to a major conference matchup on Jan. 25, when SHU will host the No. 1 UConn Huskies (18-1, 9-0 BIG EAST) women's basketball at Walsh Gym. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. as the Pirates look to defend their home court against one of the nation’s top teams, and to continue their dominance in BIG EAST play.
Jaden Highsmith is the assistant editor of The Setonian’s Sports section. He can be reached at jaden.highsmith@student.shu.edu.
