Box Score SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Seton Hall defeated Saint Peter's 75-45 in the opening matchup of the Seton Hall Thanksgiving Classic.
Alyssa Velles (Franklin, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) paced the Peacocks (0-3) with a personal-best 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Hala Mostafa (Cairo, Egypt/Modern Narmer Language School) and Antonia Smith (Bronx, N.Y./Dwight School) each recorded six points in the losing effort.
Daisha Simmons paced the Pirates (4-1) with a game-high 30 points on 12-of-19 shooting. Tabatha Richardson-Smith finished with 15 points in the win.
Seton Hall used a series of runs in the first half of the contest to pull away for its fourth win of the season and advance to the championship round against Saint Joseph's on Sunday.
The Pirates opened the game on a 23-4 run, fueled by 14 points from Simmons. Saint Peter's trimmed into the margin, using a pair of 3-pointers at 6:18 and 5:06 in the first half.
Following a pair of free throws from Seton Hall at 4:23, Velles knocked down another trey at 4:13 to trail 25-12. The Pirates ended the first half of a 9-6 run to take a 34-18 advantage heading into the locker room.
Saint Peter's opened up the second half with jumper from Bridget Whitfield (San Diego, Calif./La Costa Canyon) at 19:22 to cut into the Seton Hall lead. Seton Hall countered with consecutive scores from Richardson-Smith to take a 39-20 lead.
Following a basket from Smith at 17:20, the Pirates scored consecutive field goals to take a 45-22 lead. The Peacocks cut into the deficit, using back-to-back baskets from Mostafa to trail 45-26.
Seton Hall countered with an 18-3 run to take a 61-29 lead with 9:55 remaining in the contest en route to the 75-45 victory.
Marcia Senatus (Roselle, N.J./Trenton Catholic) recorded five points in the contest, while Samantha Meier (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) finished with a team-high three assists.
The Peacocks return to action tomorrow, when they compete in the consolation game against Saint Francis Brooklyn. Game time is slated for 12 p.m.
