SPORTS WRAP
BY WILLIAM HATHAWAY, JR.
PHOTOS BY FELICIA LAGUERRE OWENS
The Seton Hall women’s basketball season is doing well so far. Their biggest game yet this year has seen the Lady Pirates win a big Jan. 4 game at Walsh Gym over the Georgetown Hoyas. Seton Hall is 12-3 overall this season and leading the Big East at 4-0.
The Hoyas built a 30-22 lead at the half despite 13 turnovers in the first half. Nonetheless, the SHU women were up to the challenge. Freshman Jada Eads drained a go ahead three-pointer with 52 seconds left that lifted Seton Hall towards a 74-71 overtime victory. Eads had 27 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds in the win. Teammate Ya Ya Lops had 17 points, 3 boards, and 3 steals, scoring her 1,000th point as well.
This wasn’t the only clutch win the Pirates have had as of late, as The Hall beat Villanova on the road thanks to a Faith Masonius reverse layup at the buzzer for a 56-55 win. Masonius, who is scoring over 17 points per game, was honored before the Georgetown for scoring her 1,000th point a few weeks ago. She was also named as one of the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) National Players of the Week.
In other women’s college basketball action, USC came to the tri-state area along with star guard JuJu Watkins to play Rutgers. In front of 7,356 people, the largest crowd ever for a women’s game at Jersey Mike’s Arena, the Trojans blew away the Scarlet Knights 94-42. Watkins led her team to victory with 23 points and 14 rebounds.
In New Jersey high school basketball, The East Orange Campus boys team defeated Passaic County Tech and Hackensack to win the Quad 2 championship at the Jingle Bells Jubilee at the old Paterson Catholic High School. This was the second year in the row in winning the Christmas tournament.
Finally, in the NFL, the Giants and Jets finished out their disappointing seasons. Big Blue lost their final game on the road to the Eagles 20-13. Philadelphia rested key players like Saquon Barkley, stopping his bid to break Eric Dickerson single season rushing record. Despite going 3-14 and getting the third pick instead of the first, the Giants are expected to keep their head coach and general manager.
As for the Jets, they won their season finale at home over the Dolphins 32-20. The only highlight of the 5-12 season was Aaron Rodgers connecting on his 500th career TD pass. He currently sits at 503, with uncertainty about his future with the team, as well as the head coach and GM situations.