SOUTH ORANGE – The Seton Hall Pirates (4-0) narrowly avoided a stunner to the Fordham Rams (3-3) Thursday night, winning 90 to 83 in double overtime. Late game heroics from unanimous All-BIG EAST Preseason Team member Savannah Catalon proved to be the difference for the Pirates.
Returning from a successful two-game California trip over the weekend, the Pirates returned to Walsh Gymnasium, looking to start 4-0 once again. Highlighted by one of head coach Tony Bozzella’s stronger offenses to start a season in years, the Pirates were ready after a few days off.
Much of their strong start to the season can be credited to the many new pieces brought in through the transfer portal in the offseason. Last season, former Pirate and New Jersey native Faith Masonius was the talk of South Orange, eventually becoming an All-BIG EAST First Team member. This season, Texas transfer Jordana Codio and Florida State transfer Mariana Valenzuela have been excellent and are poised for big seasons ahead.
Valenzuela was especially needed Thursday as the Rams proved to be a tough challenge for the Pirates. Despite Seton Hall forcing an incredible 26 turnovers, Fordham found their ways offensively, thanks in large part to Appalachian State transfer Alexis Black.
Black, entering Thursday’s contest averaging 19.4 points per game, was unguardable for a usually strong Pirates defense. In the first half alone, Black led all scorers with 16 points, and lit it up from the perimeter, shooting four for five from three. By the end of the night, the junior guard had racked up a program record 42 points.
Historically, Black’s fantastic scoring output vs Seton Hall rivals that of Villanova legend Maddy Siegrist’s 50-point game back in February 2023.
Entering halftime, the Pirates found themselves in a battle with their foes from the Bronx. Only up 36 to 34, Valenzuela and sophomore guard Jada Eads led the home side in points with 11 a piece.
For Seton Hall, their shooting was questionable at times throughout the contest. Whether it was good defense from Fordham or bad shot attempts, the Pirates dug themselves into a hole.
It felt like deja vu again for the Seton Hall faithful in attendance Thursday night. Many recall the men’s program’s disastrous buzzer-beater loss at the hands of the Rams last November in Walsh Gym. It appeared the women’s program would suffer the same fate.
However, Catalon refused to see her squad fall to their foes out of the Atlantic 10 (A10) conference. After getting fouled following a missed free throw by Fordham’s Ornella Niankan, Catalan drilled two free throws to send the game to overtime with the score reading 72 all.
After a low scoring first overtime frame that saw five points from each side, the Pirates were eventually able to break through in the second overtime period.
Thanks to two enormous threes from Catalon and forward Messiah Hunter, the Pirates were able to close it out. In front of a rowdy home crowd, the Pirates start 4-0 just like the previous season.
On the night, Catalon overcame a slow start and scored 20 points while being a perfect 10 for 10 from the free throw line. Valenzuela, who was impressive early, concluded the game with a career-high 21 points, eight rebounds and a team-leading four steals.
Following a week off of competition, the Pirates will travel to Princeton University and take on one of the nation’s best teams in the Tigers. Tipoff is set for December 2 at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
