South Orange, NJ—Seton Hall closed out the calendar year with a historic rout, rolling past Georgetown, 81-36, in a New Year’s Eve matchup at Walsh Gym in South Orange, N.J. The Pirates set a program record for the largest margin of victory in a BIG EAST contest, and the 36 points allowed marked their stingiest defensive showing ever in league play.
Seton Hall seized control immediately with a dominant opening quarter. After Georgetown scored on its first possession, the Pirates’ defense clamped down, holding the Hoyas without a field goal for more than five minutes while ripping off a 13-1 run. A corner three and an immediate midcourt steal that turned into a layup pushed the lead to double digits, and hot perimeter shooting (4-for-7 from deep in the period) helped The Hall surge to a 28-8 advantage after 10 minutes.
The Pirates continued to pour it on before the break. Leading 32-13, they closed the second quarter on an 8-0 spurt, capped by a jumper in the final 30 seconds that sent them into the locker room up 40-13. Seton Hall’s pressure forced 13 first-half turnovers, and Georgetown managed just 21.7 percent shooting from the floor as the Pirates dictated the tempo on both ends on the hardwood.
The onslaught carried into the third quarter, where an 11-4 burst, highlighted by a three-pointer from the backcourt, stretched the lead past 30. A transition three later in the period finished off a 12-2 run that made it 58-19 and erased any doubt about the outcome. By the fourth quarter, Seton Hall’s offense was humming in rhythm, and a late three-pointer pushed the margin to its peak at 80-27 with under four minutes remaining.
Twelve different Pirates found the scoresheet, and four reached double figures. Savannah Catalon led the way with 14 points, four rebounds, and a season-best seven steals, setting the tone defensively and in transition.
Jada Eads added 12 points and four assists, while Zahara Bishop chipped in 11 points. Off the bench, Ja’Kahla Craft provided a spark with 10 points, three boards, and three steals.
With the game well in hand, head coach Anthony Bozzella was able to clear his bench in the closing minutes, wrapping up a record-breaking night for the program.
