Pirates Throttle Gaels Behind Team Effort, 89-37

Sunday, December 8

New Rochelle, N.Y.

1:00 PM

Seton Hall University

6-4,0-0Big East

Iona

1-7,0-0MAAC

Seton Hall

Iona

12/8/2019 3:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score HOME INFO BOX SCORE

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Junior Desiree Elmore (Hartford, Conn.) and senior Shadeen Samuels (Ossining, N.Y.) combined for 32 points as the Seton Hall women's basketball team ran away with a victory over Iona, 89-37, on Sunday.

Seton Hall's 52-point victory ties for the fourth-largest margin of victory in program history, and gets the Pirates back in the win column after a hard-fought loss to No. 4 Connecticut on Thursday.

Elmore had a double-double and led all players with 17 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Samuels, making her first start since Nov. 15, added 15 points, five rebounds and two steals.

The Story:
Iona connected on a three-pointer for the first points of the game, but then went scoreless for the next 8:14 as Seton Hall took control with a 22-0 run. A jumper by Jasmine Smith (Houston, Texas) gave The Hall a commanding, 22-3, advantage with 1:15 left in the first quarter.

Already up 30-12 in the second quarter, The Hall took off again on another offensive burst. A 9-0 run capped by a layup by Selena Philoxy (Queens, N.Y.), off a pretty interior pass by Barbara Johnson (Toronto, Ontario), put the Pirates on top, 39-12, with 3:08 left to play before halftime.

Seton Hall took a 39-17 lead into break after clicking on all cylinders in the first half. The Pirates shot 46% from the floor, out-rebounded Iona by 13 boards and forced 14 Gael turnovers.

The Pirates opened the second half with a 13-2 burst to all but eliminate any of Iona's aspirations for a second half comeback. A fast-break bucket by Mya Jackson (Wilmington, Ohio) with 7:02 left in the third quarter extended The Hall's lead to 52-19. The Pirate lead only grew from there as 14 Pirates were able to get game action, with 11 scoring in the contest.

Inside the Numbers:

Seton Hall was 35-for-71 (49.3%) from the floor for the game, while Iona was 15-for-56 (26.8%). The Hall was 8-for-27 (29.6%) from three-point range, while the Gaels were 5-for-26 (19.2%).
Elmore led all players with 17 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in only 23 minutes.
The Hall out-rebounded Iona, 49-to-29, which included a 20-to-10 advantage on the offensive boards and a 14-to-3 lead in second-chance points.
Samuels scored 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting to go with five rebounds and two steals.
Seton Hall was 11-for-21 (52.4%) from the free-throw line, while Iona was only 2-for-2 (100.0%).
Senior Alexis Lewis (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) scored 10 points to go with six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals.
Smith matched her season-high with nine points.
Seton Hall forced a season-high 31 Iona turnovers, while committing only 15.

News & Notes:

Seton Hall improves to 6-4 on the season, while Iona falls to 1-7.
Seton Hall improves to a perfect 15-0 all-time against the Gaels.
Seton Hall's 52-point victory is tied for the fourth-largest margin of victory in program history. It's the Pirates' largest margin of victory since downing Norfolk State, 95-43, on New Year's Eve, 2008.
Seton Hall has now held three opponents to under 40 points in a game for the first time since the 2011-12 season.
Samuels returned to the starting lineup for the first time since Nov. 15 against Princeton.
Elmore's double-double is her second of the season and career.
Freshman Victoria Keenan (Northampton, Pa.) scored her first collegiate points with a fourth-quarter three-pointer. She finished with eight points for the game.
Freshman Kailah Harris (Ossining, N.Y.) also scored her first collegiate points, picking up three to go with four rebounds and two steals.
Elmore led the Pirates in scoring for the sixth time this year. Seton Hall is 4-2 in those games.
Seton Hall's 35 made field goals and 49 rebounds are season highs.
Iona's 31 turnovers are the most by a Seton Hall opponent so far this season, and their two free-throws are the fewest taken by a Pirate foe.

Up Next:
Seton Hall will take a break from game action and won't play until it hosts Lafayette at Walsh Gymnasium on Friday, Dec. 20. The game will be a Pirate Sports Network broadcast, and of course will be provided on the radio by 89.5 FM WSOU and wsou.net. Tip-time is scheduled for Noon.