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Captains Fuel Pirates to WNIT First Round Win, 69-61

The Hall advances and will host Syracuse on Monday at 7:00 p.m. in Walsh Gymnasium.

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Senior Lauren Park-Lane (Wilmington, Del.) erupted for a game-high 30 points and Sidney Cooks (Kenosha, Wis.) had a double-double as the Seton Hall women's basketball team defeated St. Joseph's in the opening round of the 2023 WNIT on Thursday.
 
The Hall advances to the second round of the WNIT and will host Syracuse on Monday, March 20 at 7:00 p.m. in Walsh Gymnasium.  Tickets are available by calling 973-275-4255.
 
The Pirates out-scored St. Joseph's 31-13 in the first quarter, which provided the catalyst for the victory.  The Hawks chipped away over the final three quarters, and cut their deficit to just two late in the fourth, but The Hall was able to make big stops defensively when it needed to.
 
Park-Lane was brilliant early, scoring 19 of her game-high 30 points in the first quarter alone, to set Seton Hall's single-quarter scoring record.  She was 7-for-16 for the game, including 4-for-6 from three-point range and 12-for-15 from the free-throw line.  Her 30 points ties Seton Hall's scoring record for points in an NCAA or WNIT contest.
 
THE STORY:
Park-Lane caught fire early for the Pirates, connecting on four of her first five three-pointer attempts, all in the first quarter.  In all, the Pirates were 10-for-15 (.667) in a dominant opening first 10 minutes.  The Pirates used a 14-0 run and they took a 31-13 lead into the second.  Park-Lane scored 19 of the Pirates' 31 points to set a new program record for points in a single-quarter.
 
After one of their best quarters of the season, the Pirates shot just 28.6% from the field in the second and committed seven turnovers.  Still, The Hall took a 42-26 lead into the break. 
 
Trailing 44-27 early in the third, Saint Joseph's went on a 7-0 run, prompting a Seton Hall timeout, and cutting their deficit to 44-34 with 7:38 left in the quarter.  The Pirates got their lead back up to 15 points, but made three-pointers on back-to-back possessions by the Hawks cut their lead to just nine entering the fourth quarter.
 
Saint Joseph's continued to chip away in the fourth, and a 9-0 run reduced its deficit to just two points, 63-61, with 1:43 left to play.  The Hall, however, turned up its defense late and held the Hawks to 0-for-4 shooting the rest of the way.  The Pirates were able to ice the game on the free-throw line, going 6-for-8 in the final 1:16.
 
THE NUMBERS:
  • Seton Hall was 22-for-54 (40.7%) from the floor for the game, while Saint Joseph's was 23-for-58 (39.7%).  The Hall was 9-for-22 (40.9%) from three-point range, while the Hawks were 8-for-21 (38.1%). 
  • Park-Lane had a game-high 30 points on 7-for-16 shooting, including 4-for-6 from three-point range and 12-for-15 from the free-throw line.  She also had five rebounds, three assists and three steals.
  • The Hall out-rebounded Saint Joseph's, 42-to-28, including an 11-to-6 edge on the offensive glass and an 10-to-6 advantage in second-chance points.
  • Cooks had a double-double with 17 points on 7-for-14 shooting, including 3-for-5 from the three-point arc.  She also had a game-high 10 rebounds.
  • Seton Hall was 16-for-19 (84.2%) from the free-throw line, while Saint Joseph's was 7-for-10 (70.0%). 
  • Azana Baines (Blackwood, N.J.) had six points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks.
  • Seton Hall forced 12 turnovers, while Saint Joseph's forced 19.  The Hawks had a 15-to-11 advantage in points-off-turnovers.
  • Junior Amari Wright (Jacksonville, Fla.) had another strong game off the bench with four points, six rebounds and a team-high five assists.
THE NOTES:
  • Seton Hall improves to 19-14 on the season, while Saint Joseph's drops to a final record of 20-11.
  • The Hall is now 10-5 all-time against the Hawks and improves to 5-1 against them in Walsh Gym.
  • The Pirates improve to 10-7 all-time in the WNIT and 5-3 in first-round contests.
  • With 30 points, Park-Lane tied Seton Hall's record for most points in an NCAA or WNIT contest.  Former Pirate Jodi Brooks scored 30 against Vermont in the NCAA Tournament on March 16, 1994.
  • Park-Lane set Seton Hall's single-quarter scoring record tonight with 19 points in the first.
  • With tonight's victory, head coach Anthony Bozzella needs only four more wins to reach 500 for his career.
  • Cooks' double-double is her fifth of the year and the 17th of her career, which leads all active Pirates.
  • Tonight's effort was Park-Lane's seventh 30-point game of the season and the 12th of her career.  Furthermore, it's her 14th 20-point game of the season and the 38th of her career.
  • The Pirates are now 15-1 this season when holding their opponent to under 40.0% shooting.
  • The Hall improves to 116-45 in Walsh Gym during the Bozzella era.  Furthermore, the Pirates are now 57-11 against non-conference opponents at home.
UP NEXT:
Seton Hall will return to action on Monday, March 20 when it hosts fellow original BIG EAST member Syracuse in the second round of the WNIT in Walsh Gymnasium.  Tip time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.  The game will be streamed live by the BIG EAST Digital Network and available for FloHoops subscribers.