Seton Hall University
Villanova
Women's Hoops Defeated by Villanova
2/14/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Richardson-Smith finished with 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting and also knocked down a pair of three-pointers. She has scored in double figures in back-to-back games for the first time in her career and is averaging 7.3 points per game over the last six games, above her season-average of 5.3.
Redshirt-sophomore Ka-Deidre Simmons (Newark, N.J.) scored six points with five assists and three rebounds. She ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in minutes per game and logged all 40 minutes for the second-straight game and for the fourth time this season.
Senior Brittany Morris (Raleigh, N.C.) scored seven points and hit one three pointer as she continues her ascent up the Seton Hall three-point record book. She now sits just four threes away from becoming Seton Hall's all-time leader.
Villanova jumped out to a great start offensively, opening the game on a 13-0 run over the first 5:30 minutes. The Wildcats nailed six three-pointers in the opening period to build a 15-point, 30-15, advantage by the intermission.
Senior Alexandra Maseko (Harare, Zimbabwe) snapped the SHU cold shooting streak, getting to the basket as she drew a foul to put the Pirates on the scoreboard.
Three-point shooting allowed Seton Hall to cut a 13-point deficit down to just seven in a matter of seconds.
With a little over five minutes remaining in the first Morris drove through the paint and dished the ball out to Richardson-Smith on the wing for a long-range bucket. Following a defensive stop Morris called her own number from three, making it a triple on consecutive possessions for The Hall and the Pirates trailed just 20-13.
The Wildcats answered with a pair of their own three-pointers, first a trey for Jesse Carey followed by Emily Leer connecting from deep 90 seconds later.
Villanova shot 6-for-11 (54.5 percent) from long range in the first half and the Wildcats forced eight Seton Hall turnovers, taking advantage of the extra possessions to outscore the Pirates 7-2 after the change of possession.
The second half saw the Wildcats continue their hot three-point shooting. Villanova opened the period by hitting five of its first seven field goals, including a pair of three-pointers, as a part of a 12-2 run. Laura Sweeney scored 14 points with six rebounds, three assists, three blocks and five steals to pace Villanova. Devon Kane finished with 12 points and hit both of her three-point attempts. The Wildcats hit nine three-pointers as a team and shot 47.4 percent from long distance.
Seton Hall returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 16, when it heads down to Tampa, Fla., to take on the USF Bulls in the Sun Dome at 7 p.m.
