SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. — Tony Bozzella has Seton Hall on the rise.
The Pirates are in the midst of their longest winning streak in 34 years and now, after Sunday’s 70-51 win over No. 14 Georgia, own a victory over a Top 25 team for the first time in nearly eight years.
“It’s a very important win for us,” the second-year coach said. “Never underestimate that for us. … Next to any playoff game, it’s the most important game I’ve coached in and I’m really proud of them.”
The Pirates (12-1) won their 11th straight game after Tabatha Richardson-Smith scored 15 of her 25 points in a key second-half run. It was Seton Hall’s first win over a ranked team since 2007.
“They are a great program, they’ve made it to the NCAA tournament 20 years in a row,” Bozzella said of Georgia. “For us to beat a team that was undefeated, it was a big win.”
Seton Hall last won this many straight games in 1980-81 when the Pirates had a 12-game run.
“I think they should have been ranked,” Georgia coach Andy Landers said. “They got quality wins, no bad losses, beat who they are supposed to beat.”
Trailing 41-39, Richardson-Smith and Seton Hall (12-1) took over. The Pirates scored eight straight to go up 47-41. After a basket by Merritt Hempe made it a four-point game with 9:57 left Richardson-Smith scored 15 of the next 17 points to blow it open.
She started her run with a layup and then a floater. After Tiffany Jones scored, Richardson-Smith hit back-to-back 3s. A timeout by Georgia (12-1) couldn’t cool off the junior forward who then converted a steal into a layup and hit another 3 that made it 64-43 with 5:54 left. The Lady Bulldogs couldn’t recover.
Tiaria Griffin scored 16 to lead the Lady Bulldogs, who couldn’t get within single digits the rest of the way.
It was a game of runs. Trailing by eight at the half, Georgia rallied scoring 16 of the first 22 points in the second half to take a 41-39 lead with 12:43 left in the game on Mackenzie Engram’s putback. It was the Lady Bulldogs first lead since 7-6. But then Richardson-Smith and Seton Hall took over.
The game got off to a slow start with both teams turning the ball over and struggling to put it in the basket. The game was tied at 16 before Richardson-Smith hit consecutive 3-pointers to start a 13-3 run. Ka-Deidre Simmons had the final five points during the burst, including a 3-point play that made it 29-19 with 2:25 left in the half.
Seton Hall led 33-25 at the break.