By John "Woods" Armwood III
In a disappointing home loss on Sunday afternoon, the Seton Hall women’s basketball team was defeated by Creighton, 72-64, in a hard-fought battle at Walsh Gymnasium. Despite a valiant effort, Seton Hall struggled to overcome a strong second-half surge from Creighton, marking their first home loss of the season.
The loss, which dropped the Pirates to 12-4 on the season, was a hard-fought battle but ultimately saw Seton Hall struggle to find consistency against a Creighton squad that played with poise and precision throughout.
Slow Start Haunts Pirates
The game started off with a sense of urgency, as both teams came out strong, but it was Creighton who set the tone early. The Bluejays, who have established themselves as one of the top teams in the Big East, jumped out to an early lead thanks to sharp shooting and solid defense. Seton Hall, on the other hand, found themselves in a hole early on, as they struggled to get into rhythm offensively.
Creighton’s offense was led by Morgan Maly, who lit up the court with 23 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. The Bluejays' ability to shoot from beyond the arc, combined with excellent ball movement, put constant pressure on Seton Hall’s defense.
Seton Hall, despite the early deficit, showed signs of life in the second quarter. Led by Faith Masonius, scoring 18 points in the contest. The Pirates clawed their way back into the game, closing the gap heading into halftime. However, Creighton’s composure and scoring depth proved to be too much for Seton Hall to overcome.
Turnovers and Cold Shooting Plague the Pirates
One of the key factors in the Pirates’ downfall was their inability to take care of the basketball. Seton Hall committed 12 turnovers throughout the game, many of which led to fast-break points for Creighton. This was especially costly in the second half when the Pirates were desperately trying to mount a comeback.
On the offensive end, Seton Hall struggled with their shooting, particularly from beyond the arc. The team shot only 38.1% from three-point range, allowing Creighton to sag off and focus on shutting down the inside game. While I'yanna Lops and Faith Masonius continued to battle in the paint, they were unable to find the rhythm needed to outpace Creighton.
Bluejays Prove Too Much
In the final quarter, Creighton pulled away, executing a series of precise plays that widened the gap. Seton Hall had no answer for Creighton’s balanced scoring attack, which saw contributions from freshman guard Jada Eads alongside their standout star. Despite a late push from Seton Hall, it was too little, too late.
Seton Hall's head coach Anthony Bozzella expressed frustration after the game, noting that the team’s inconsistency and turnover issues were key factors in the loss.
“We didn’t execute the way we know we’re capable of,” Bozzella stated. “Creighton is a very good team, and they capitalized on our mistakes. We’ll need to be sharper if we’re going to compete with the best teams in the conference.”
Bright Spots for Seton Hall
While the defeat stung, there were some positives for Seton Hall to take away from the game. These players continue to show growth and resilience, and their performances will be crucial moving forward. Additionally, Seton Hall showed flashes of strong defense, limiting Creighton to 36% shooting from deep in the second half. If the Pirates can find a way to minimize their turnovers and capitalize on these defensive moments, they could still have a successful season ahead.
Looking Ahead
Seton Hall will look to bounce back in their next matchup as they head into a stretch of crucial Big East games. The team will need to focus on improving their offensive flow, reducing turnovers, and getting contributions from a more diverse group of players.
Next up, Seton Hall will face Marquette on the road, hoping to regroup and refocus after this tough home loss. With a bit of refinement and determination, the Pirates will look to make a strong push in conference play and get back into the win column.