Seton Hall Looks to Continue Winning Ways Against Struggling Washington State

NEWARK, N.J. (Interstat) — The Seton Hall Pirates look to capitalize on a favorable nonconference matchup when they host the struggling Washington State Cougars in women’s basketball Tuesday night at Prudential Center.

Seton Hall (6-3) enters off a 69-63 home victory over Auburn on Sunday, a performance that showcased its balance. Mariana Valenzuela led the way with 20 points and eight rebounds, while Savannah Catalon added 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists. The Pirates have won three of their last four.

Washington State (1-10) seeks to halt a six-game skid, most recently a 51-82 loss to Texas Tech on Friday. The Cougars’ lone win came against Miami (Ohio) on Nov. 28. Their season has been marked by offensive struggles, failing to reach 60 points in seven of their 11 games.

The matchup features two standout guards. Seton Hall’s Valenzuela has been a consistent force, averaging 16.2 points per game and coming off her 20-point effort against Auburn. For Washington State, Eleonora Villa has been a bright spot during the difficult start. The guard is averaging 16.1 points over her last six contests, including a 23-point performance in a narrow loss at BYU on Dec. 3. She scored 13 points in the loss to Texas Tech.

The Pirates have shown resilience at home, boasting a 5-1 record at Prudential Center this season. Their defense will aim to contain Villa and force other Cougars to score. Washington State will need to improve its ball security and find secondary scoring behind Villa to challenge a Seton Hall team finding its rhythm.

This game concludes a three-game homestand for Seton Hall before it opens Big East play at Villanova on Friday. Washington State continues a four-game road trip at Penn on Friday.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.