SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – The Providence College women's basketball team opened BIG EAST Conference play with a 51-46 win at Seton Hall on Saturday, Dec. 30. It marked the Friars first victory over Seton Hall at Walsh Gymnasium since Feb. 6, 2011. The Friars improved to 7-7 overall (1-0 BIG EAST), while the Pirates dropped to 9-4 (1-1 BIG EAST). Additionally,
Erin Batth earned her first BIG EAST Conference victory as a head coach.
1ST QUARTER:
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Brynn Farrell hit a triple for the Friars to start the game, but the Pirates answered with seven-straight points (7-3).
• Providence went on a 7-0 run over the next three minutes to regain the lead (10-7) .
• Seton Hall closed the quarter with a 7-3 scoring advantage to take a 14-13 lead into the break.
• Free-throw shooting hurt the Friars in the opening 10 minutes as the squad combined to shoot 2-7 from the line (.286).
2ND QUARTER:
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Marta Morales Romero opened the second quarter with a three from the top of the key to spark a 10-2 Providence run and put the Friars ahead 23-16 with 7:20 on the clock.
• After a Seton Hall timeout, Providence extended its run to 12-2 with a lay-up by
Olivia Olsen (25-16) at the 6:41 mark.
• It proved to be the last made field goal of the quarter for Providence, as it scored just two points from the foul line the rest of the way.
• The Friars led 27-20 at halftime as
Nariah Scott and Morales Romero each recorded seven points to pace the offense. Morales Romero was 3-3 from the field in the first half.
• Olsen contributed five points, seven boards, two assists and three blocks in 14 minutes of action in the first half.
3RD QUARTER:
• The Pirates started the third quarter on a 9-0 run to take a 29-27 lead.
• Morales Romero scored five-straight points for Providence to help her squad regain a 32-31 lead.
• Seton Hall outscored Providence 15-6 in the third quarter overall to carry a 35-33 lead into the final frame.
4TH QUARTER:
• The Friars opened the quarter with a 5-0 spurt to claim a 38-35 advantage on the scoreboard.
• Providence maintained the lead (41-40) into the final media timeout of the game (4:47).
• The Friars scored six-straight points to force a Seton Hall timeout with 3:11 left in the game.
• The 6-0 spurt put Providence ahead, 47-40.
• The Friars led 49-43 with one-minute left in regulation and remained poised for the 51-46 victory.
NOTES:
• The last time the Friars defeated Seton Hall at Walsh Gymnasium dates back to Feb. 6, 2011 (58-55).
• Seton Hall entered the game with a 7-0 record this season at Walsh Gymnasium.
• Providence snapped an eight-game winless streak to Seton Hall. The last time the Friars defeated Seton Hall dates back to Feb. 8, 2019 (82-75) in Providence, R.I.
• Morales Romero scored a game and career-high 17 points. She converted her first five shot attempts from the field and finished the day 7-9 overall, including a 3-4 performance from beyond the arc.
• Olsen posted her fifth double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds. She also added four blocked shots, three assists and one steal.
• Farrell finished the day with 11 points and nine rebounds. Seven of her 11 points came in the fourth quarter.
• Providence won the boards, 44-35.
• The Friars' defense held the Pirates to 23.4-percent shooting from the field (15-64), including 3-27 shooting from beyond the arc (.111).
• Providence shot 44.4-percent from the field (20-45) in the win.
WHAT'S NEXT:
• The Friars return to action on Wednesday, January 3 against DePaul. The game will serve as the backdrop for the program's annual Project Providence event and tip-off is set for 11:00 a.m. at Alumni Hall / Mullaney Gymnasium in Providence, R.I.
- GO FRIARS! -