SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – The Pirates defeated the Bulldogs on Tuesday afternoon by the final score of 84-55. Sidney Cooks scored a career-high 35 points in the outcome and Lauren Park-Lane would post 17 points and a career-high 18 assists. Butler was led by Celena Taborn and her 15 points and six rebounds.
 
How It Happened
It was a slow start for each side on Tuesday afternoon. Seton Hall hit two of their first nine shots to open up a 5-2 lead against Butler at the first media timeout. The 'Dawgs started just 1-for-7 with the lone bucket coming courtesy of Sydney Jaynes.
 
The Pirates came out of the huddle to score the next nine points of the game, taking a 14-2 lead. Butler stopped the scoring spree with a Celena Taborn bucket from the right block and a deep buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Zoe Jackson.
 
Lauren Park-Lane would hit her first 3-pointer of the game at the 8:36 mark of the second quarter to give SHU a 10-point cushion at 19-9. Her second made shot from behind the arc came on the very next trip down, giving her eight points early in the action.
 
Seton Hall stayed hot from behind the arc and would lead Butler 30-13 near the midway point of the second quarter. Tenley Dowell hit a 3-pointer before the media timeout to break up the scoring run, but the Pirates would push forward to lead by 20 at 36-16.
 
Sidney Cooks and Lauren Park-Lane were the difference in the first half. Cooks had 19 points and five rebounds in 19 minutes of action and Park-Lane was in the box score with 10 points and eight assists. Park-Lane and Andra Espinoza-Hunter never left the court for SHU.
 
Butler went without an assist in the first half, but would record one on the first possession of the second half with Zoe Jackson feeding Taborn in the post for two. Seton Hall however would score the next five points of the third quarter causing head coach Kurt Godlevske to call a timeout just two minutes into the frame.
 
Butler came together and went on an 8-0 run in the third quarter. Taborn sparked the surge with a 3-point play then Kendall Wingler pulled up for three on a BU fast break. Ellen Ross was the third 'Dawg to get involved before a Pirate timeout. SHU would then get things rolling over the final stages of the third. They used a 9-0 run to win that 10-minute stretch 20-16.
 
The Bulldogs went on another 8-0 scoring run in the fourth quarter. Zoe Jackson blew by her defender for the first two for BU and Trinity White was in the mix, scoring her first bucket of the game. The other four points were provided by Taborn in the paint. Taborn scored eight of her team-high 15 points in the fourth quarter before exiting the court with 5:35 to play.
 
Park-Lane set a new Seton Hall single-game assist record in the closing minutes of the contest. The junior dished out 18 assists on the day while also scoring 17 points. In the end, Seton Hall would outscore Butler 25-19 in the fourth to take us to our final of 84-55.
 
Stat of the Game
Sidney Cooks and Lauren Park-Lane combined for 52 points, 11 rebounds, and 20 assists.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Celena Taborn led Butler with 15 points and six rebounds
- Alex Richard came off the bench to supply BU with nine points and five boards
- Tenley Dowell had eight points and four rebounds
- Sidney Cooks scored 19 of her career-high 35 points in the first half
- Cooks went 15-for-20 from the field, including 3-for-6 from 3-point range
- Butler did not record an assist, steal, block, or attempt a free throw in the first half
- BU shot just 19% from 3-point range (5-27)
- Sexton, Dowell, Jackson, Ross and Jaynes started for Butler

Up Next
Butler will host Villanova on Friday night at 7:08 PM. The contest will be the annual "Think Pink Game". All fans in attendance are encouraged to wear pink.