Women’s basketball loses heartbreaker to Seton Hall

Mitchell Berrang

Friday evening at the Pavilion was nothing short of a barn burner. 

Fans in the Pavilion were treated to “dollar dog night” in addition to the incredibly suspenseful contest between Villanova and No. 25 Seton Hall. The Wildcats gave a strong effort, but fell to the Pirates 59-56. 

Seton Hall jumped out to an early lead, but the Wildcats battled back and cut a 13- point deficit down to make the score 31-26 at halftime. 

The second half of the game began with a 3-pointer by Villanova junior forward Kavunaa Edwards. The 3-point ball seemed to be the trend for the Wildcats in the second half. They made six from behind the arch and finished the game 11 of 42 from beyond the line. 

The last four minutes of the game had the crowd on edge as the Wildcats and the Pirates exchanged possessions and baskets. 

With 2:43 left, Villanova fought back and trailed by only three points, 59-56. Seton Hall grabbed two crucial offensive rebounds that allowed them to wind precious seconds off the clock. 

wWith 7.9 seconds left in regulation, the Wildcats inbounded the ball and Caroline Coyer hoisted up a hopeful 3-pointer that hit the back iron and bounced out. 

Emily Leer led the Wildcats with a team high of 15 points, including three consecutive three-pointers that brought the Wildcats back from an early deficit in the first half. 

Three other Wildcats scored in double digits including Coyer’s  11 points, Edwards’  10 and Taylor Holeman’s 10. Both Holeman and Coyer nearly recorded double-doubles, collecting nine and eight rebounds respectively. 

Seton Hall was led by an experienced and speedy back court. 

Both Daisha Simmons and Ka-Deidre Simmons exploited the Wildcats’ stingy defense. Daisha Simmons recorded an impressive double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds, while Ka-Deidre Simmons dropped in 15 points. 

This pair of fifth-year seniors combined scoring consisted of 58 percent of the Pirates’ total score. Additionally, the Pirates out rebounded the Wildcats, 56-36.

Both teams proved that they are legitimate conference contenders. Having endured such a hard fought battle with a top 25 team, this game was a true testament to the Wildcats’ resiliency and courage. 

Although the loss was certainly deflating for the team and fans alike, the atmosphere inside the Pavilion throughout the game was of genuine excitement and nerve-racking suspense. 

Without a doubt, Wildcat fans will be flocking back to the Pavilion with hopes of experiencing the same degree of intensity and a victorious result.