SPORTS WRAP
BY WILLIAM HATHAWAY, JR.
PHOTOS BY ERIK COHEN AND FELICIA LAGUERRE OWENS
This past week was another busy week of sports. In college basketball action, the Seton Hall men’s team has been doing well this season, with a Top 25 ranking thanks to big victories over defending champ Connecticut, Marquette and Providence. Their most recent big win came against St. John’s by the final score of 80-65. The Pirates trounced the lifeless Red Storm in the 2nd half, helping to sweep the season series.
Kadary Richmond had another solid game for the Hall with 10 points and 8 rebounds, but Al Amir Dawes led the charge this time with 21 points. Joel Soriano from St. John’s was outplayed by backup center and Orange NJ native Elijah Hutchins-Everett, who dominated inside with 14 points and 9 rebounds.
Unfortunately, SHU’s win streak came to an end at the Prudential Center, after losing their first ever triple overtime game to a tough #18 Creighton team 97-94, and dropping out of the Top 25. The tough L came despite a triple double by Richmond in front of a sold out crowd Richmond who led his team 21 points 11 rebounds and 11 assists. He was one of three Pirates with 21 points, joining Dre Davis who added 9 rebounds and Al Amir Dawes. Ryan Kalkbrenner led Creighton with 28 points. As of Tuesday, Seton Hall men’s record is 13-6 and 6-2 in the Big East.
Meanwhile, the Seton Hall women’s basketball team won a big conference home game on Monday night at Walsh Gym in overtime 74-66 over St. John’s. Leading Seton Hall was Azana Baines with 17 points and 13 rebounds and Kae Satterfield with 16 points 3 rebounds. ShaLynn Hagans also scored 10 points while St. John’s was led by Bernyah Mayo’s 23 points and 3 rebounds and Jillian Archer’s 10 points and 8 rebounds.
In more news, Azana Baines was named to the Big East weekly honors for the 5th time this season and Kadary Richmond was honored for scoring his 1,000 point before the Creighton game.
On to the NFL playoffs, where the Detroit Lions advanced to their first NFC title game since 1992, beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-23. Leading the Lions was Jared Goff on 30-43 passing for 287 yards. Baker Mayfield was 26-41 for 347 yards and threw three touchdowns for the Bucs, but fell short after a game ending interception.
The Lions will make the trip to California, where the San Francisco 49ers will be waiting after getting by a tough Green Bay Packers squad. The Niners got a TD late in the 4th quarter from Christian McCaffrey to take the lead 24-21. The Pack tried to answer, but QB Jordan Love threw a pick, sealing the final score.
In the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens pulled away from the Texans in the second half 34-10, while the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bills 27-24 after kicker Tyler Bass missed a game tying field goal wide right. The miss gave echoes of Bills kicker Scott Norwood, who missed a 47 yard field at the end of Super Bowl XXV, giving the New York Giants their second big game win.
Finally, in a 10 year, $5 billion deal, Netflix has agreed to air WWE’s Monday Night Raw program. Meanwhile, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has joined the TKO Group board, which houses both WWE and UFC. In a related matter, Johnson now owns the rights to “The Rock” name.
