Seton Hall women’s basketball earned a hard-fought 64–61 win over Marquette on Wednesday night at Walsh Gymnasium in a huge BIG EAST matchup that came down to the final couple of possessions. With the win, the Pirates improved to 12–5 overall and 6–2 in conference play, while jumping Marquette in the BIG EAST standings and moving into third place.
Meanwhile, Marquette fell to 11–6 overall and 5–3 in league play after the loss. This game was a huge opportunity for both teams to send a message to their conference, as they entered the game tied in the standings and competing near the top of the BIG EAST.
The Golden Eagles came out strong in the first quarter, shooting lights out and controlling the pace. Marquette scored 20 points in the opening 10 minutes and built a lead as large as 15 points. SHU once again struggled to find its offense early, trailing 20–9 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, however, the Pirates began to settle in. The Hall stepped up its defensive intensity and held Marquette to just five points in the period. SHU forced turnovers and turned defense into offense, going on a strong 17-0 run that brought them back into the game. By halftime, Marquette’s lead had been cut to just three points, 25–22, after the Pirates outscored the Golden Eagles 13–5 in the second quarter, and had the momentum going into the break.
SHU continued to build momentum in the third quarter. The Pirates shot the ball better (50% from the field) and moved the ball with purpose while staying aggressive on defense. SHU outscored Marquette 19–15 in the third quarter and kept the game within reach going into the fourth.
The fourth quarter turned into a battle between the two BIG EAST rivals, but SHU finally broke through. The Pirates scored 23 points in the final quarter and relied heavily on their composure at the free-throw line, making13 of their 14 free-throw attempts in the quarter, including several late attempts that helped seal the win.
Graduate forward Mariana Valenzuela led all scorers with a career-high 26 points on 10-of-21 (48%) shooting. She knocked down four three-pointers and added seven rebounds in one of her best performances of the season. Junior guard Savannah Catalon also finished with 12 points and played a crucial role down the stretch. The Texas native went a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line, including two clutch free throws in the fourth quarter that helped keep SHU in front.
After the game, head coach Anthony Bozzella praised Catalon’s work ethic and preparation. Bozzella called her “one of the most important and hard-working women” he has ever coached in his 12 seasons coaching at SHU. He added that Catalon stays after practice every day to shoot free throws, saying he was not surprised to see her go a perfect 10-for-10 at the line in a pressure-filled game.
Freshman guard Zahara Bishop and senior guard Jordana Codio each finished the game with seven points. Sophomore guard Jada Eads, who had a team-high six assists in the contest, also earned praise from Bozzella after the game. The head coach highlighted Ead’s toughness and resilience, noting that she has played through several injuries all season while continuing to compete and lead her team.
Despite shooting just over 31%from the field, SHU found other ways to win. The Pirates forced 19 turnovers, generated nine steals and stayed disciplined in late-game situations. SHU were also dominant from the free-throw line, finishing 17-for-18 (94%) for the game.
Marquette was led by Lee Volker, who scored 20 points and hit four three-pointers, and Halle Vice, who had a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds. The Golden Eagles led for most of the game and shot over 41%from the field, but couldn’t find a way to slow down SHU’s second-half surge.
The win marked The Hall’s second-straight conference victory and improved the Pirates to 8–1 at home this season. It also served as a key result against a Marquette team competing near the top of the BIG EAST standings.
SHU will look to build on their momentum when they return to action on Jan. 20 to host the Providence Friars (9-10, 2-6 BIG EAST) at Walsh Gymnasium.
Jaden Highsmith is the assistant editor of The Setonian’s Sports section. He can be reached at jaden.highsmith@student.shu.edu.
