After a heartbreaking double-overtime loss on Sunday to Creighton, Seton Hall returned to Walsh Gymnasium on Tuesday to face Butler, who has yet to win a game in the new year. The duo of Lauren Park-Lane and Sidney Cooks propelled the Pirates to an 84-55 matinee victory over the Bulldogs.
Cooks began her day with a three-pointer at the 7:43 mark in the first quarter. First quarter scoring was sporadic until Andra Espinoza-Hunter nailed a three pointer to begin a 7-2 run. Butler knocked down a last-second trey of their own, and the first quarter concluded with a Pirates lead, 14-7.
By the beginning of the second quarter, Park-Lane tallied her 5th assist on a dime to Cooks inside. Park-Lane then dropped back-to-back three-pointers to push the lead to 13. Skylar Treadwell checked in and joined the three party to give The Hall a 27-11 lead. The basket was wide open for Seton Hall, and they went into the break with a commanding 39-20 lead.
Sidney Cooks led all scorers with 19 points to go along with 5 rebounds. Bembry pulled down 9 rebounds in the first half, and Park-Lane’s presence was felt with her near first-half double-double of 10 points and 8 assists. The Pirates tenacious defense held Butler to just 15.4% from behind-the-arc, 30% overall and forced 8 turnovers.
A personal 7-2 run from Cooks pushed the lead to 22 and her game-total to 24 points with 7:13 left in the third quarter. Park-Lane earned two more assists en route to her double-double early in the third quarter as well. Butler attempted a comeback with an 8-0 run of their own to force a Coach Bozzella timeout with 4:39 remaining. Before the third quarter came to end, Sidney Cooks matched Butler’s total in points with 33. The Hall took a 59-36 lead into the fourth frame.
Late in the fourth quarter, Park-Lane shattered the Seton Hall single-game record for assists with 16. She ended with an insane 17 point, 18 assist double-double on Tuesday, and Sidney Cooks added 35 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double of her own. Bembry pulled down 12 total rebounds, and Andra Espinoza-Hunter put in 12 points.
Seton Hall gets back in the win column and improves to 10-8 in Big East play and 15-11 overall. They have won 7 of their last 8. The Hall returns to action on Friday, February 25th in Chicago to face the DePaul Blue Demons at 8:00 pm.
