SETON HALL WOMEN FALL TO #2 UCONN TO BEGIN THEIR BIG EAST SEASON

December 3, 2021

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ- The Seton Hall Women’s Basketball Team (3-3, 0-1), picked to finish 3rd in the Big East, opened conference play Friday night with a home loss against perennial powerhouse UConn Huskies (4-1, 1-0). After a fast start from sharp-shooting guard MYA JACKSON (14 points, 4 rebounds), the Lady Pirates led at the end of first period 17-16. But a fast start to the 2nd period by UConn resulted in a 36-23 half-time score. Though the final score was 74-49, the game was much closer than the final outcome showed as the Lady Pirates pulled within 12 points mid-way through the 4th period. The Lady Pirates were led by guards Junior LAUREN PARK-LANE (20 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds) and Sophomore MYA JACKSON (14 points, 4 rebounds) and Graduate F SIDNEY COOKS (13 points, 6 rebounds). UConn was led by Sophomore G PAIGE BUECKERS (23 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists) and Senior G CHRISTYN WILLIAMS (17 points, 3 rebounds). Earlier in the day Graduate G/F ADRA ESPINOZA-HUNTER was suspended from the team for one game for a violation of team rules by Lady Pirates Head Coach TONY BOZZELLA.

The Basketball Zone Breakdown: In the post-game presser, Coach Bozzella expressed his frustration that two of the top Big East women’s basketball programs were playing so early in the conference season…Coach also sent his team a message by suspending Espinoza-Hunter on the day of the team’s biggest game of the season. With a strong returning squad that added graduates Sidney Cooks and Katie Armstrong, the Lady Pirates are looking to return to the top of the Big East standings and a return to the NCAA Tournament. It was clear that the Huskies had a size and experience advantage over the Lady Pirates and Espinoza-Hunter’s absence in tonight’s line-up was profound. While UConn will always be the class of the Big East, tonight’s game would have been a barometer stick as to how far Coach Bozzella has advanced this program.