SPORTS WRAP
BY WILLIAM HATHAWAY, JR.
PHOTOS BY FELICIA LAGUERRE OWENS
Now is the time in which college basketball marches to one shining moment, until the first week of April.
This past weekend, the Seton Hall women’s basketball team had a great season, despite missing the NCAA Tournament. As a consolation, they were selected to play in the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament, their version of the men’s National Invitational Tournament, which the Seton Hall men won last year. In the first round, the SHU ladies hosted and defeated Quinnipiac at Walsh Gym 57-40. Sophomore Savannah Catalon led the Lady Pirates to the win with 18 points and 5 rebounds in the game, while Freshman Jada Eads collected her first double double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Hall outscored Quinnipiac 17-2 to start the game. Although Seton Hall shot just 26-66 for 39 percent from the field, they outrebounded the Bobcats 46-3.
Up next was the second round, but unfortunately Portland came into South Orange and defeated Seton Hall 61-55. The now 31-4 Pilots were led by Trista Hull with 14 points and 6 rebounds, while Alexis Mark had 12 points and 3 rebounds. Jada Eads had a strong 18 points and 10 rebounds and teammate Yaya Lops had 13 points and 5 rebounds. The Pirates only shot 36 percent for the game. With their last game in the books, Seton Hall ladies finished the season 23-10 overall and 13-5 in the Big East Conference.
In the men’s NCAA tournament, St. John’s suffered the first stunning upset of the tournament, losing in the second round to Arkansas 75-66. St. John’s finished with a 31-5 record and winning the Big East Conference regular season and tournament crowns. Meanwhile, defending National Champion Connecticut will not make it three in a row, losing a tough game to #1 Florida 77-75. Connecticut finished the season with 24-12 record overall.
This week, the city of Newark will be the host for the 2025 East Regional games. Among those taking the court will be the Duke Blue Devils and likely #1 NBA draft pick Copper Flagg Also, look out for Mark Seals (no known relation to our Content Editor) and Alabama.
The last time the Prudential Center hosted the East Regional was back in 2011.
