Over the next few days, we’ll be rolling out scouting notes for every team on our non-conference schedule.
We’ve already published the first two – on LSU and Kansas State – as part of our look ahead to the 2026 Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off. You can read those here:
Make the Trip: Why NC State Fans Need to Be in Fort Myers for the LSU Showdown
Make the Trip: Why NC State Fans Need to Be in Fort Myers for the Kansas State Matchup
NC State’s non-conference road test comes Sunday, November 15 at Seton Hall in South Orange, N.J. (Walsh Gymnasium). It’s a true road game against a solid Big East program coming off a strong 2025-26 season.
Under longtime head coach Anthony Bozzella (entering his 14th season at Seton Hall), the Pirates went 19-13 overall and 12-8 in the Big East last year, finishing tied for third in the conference. They reached the Big East Tournament semifinals and earned a WBIT bid, falling in the first round. This is a consistent, well-coached mid-to-upper Big East group that has made postseason play regularly under Bozzella.
The biggest name to watch is Savannah Catalon, the 5-8 senior guard who was a unanimous All-Big East First Team selection and All-Defensive Team member. She averaged 13.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and a conference-leading 2.8 steals per game while shooting nearly 90% from the free-throw line. She’s the focal point of their offense and defense on the perimeter and returns as the clear leader. Guard Ja’Kahla Craft and wing Shailyn Pinkney also return with experience, along with younger pieces like Ari Woodard and forward Savanna Jones.
Beyond those, the roster has significant turnover. Key contributors from last season—including All-Big East-caliber production from Mariana Valenzuela (graduated), Jordana Codio (transferred to Georgia), Jada Eads (transferred to Tennessee after an injury-shortened year), and Zahara Bishop (transferred to Auburn)—are gone. Bozzella restocked with a mix of transfers (including players from programs like Mississippi State and Georgia Tech) and a freshman class headlined by highly ranked forward Shamira Morton (along with size in Inieye Oruh and Kenadie Maughan). Expect a group still built around Catalon’s perimeter presence but with more new faces and potential for depth if the newcomers contribute early.
What Seton Hall does well
Tough, competitive style under Bozzella with strong perimeter defense and scoring (especially Catalon’s steals and free-throw ability). They can compete hard in Big East play and generate transition opportunities off turnovers. Physical when things click and experienced at grinding out wins in a tough conference.
Potential soft spots
Heavy roster turnover means early-season chemistry and consistency could be issues. They lost substantial scoring, rebounding, and size from last year’s rotation, so interior presence and overall depth will need to develop quickly. They weren’t an elite offensive team last year and can be vulnerable if you disrupt Catalon and force them into half-court sets without easy looks.
For the Pack
This is a solid early road measuring-stick game right after the Kentucky neutral-site contest and a home date with Liberty. The keys will be containing Catalon (limit her scoring and steals, force her into tougher shots), matching their physicality and toughness on the road, controlling the glass against a potentially thinner frontcourt, and taking care of the ball to avoid their transition game. NC State won the most recent meeting 61-53 at Reynolds last December and leads the all-time series 4-2, with a strong home record in the matchup. A road win here would provide another clear early read on where the Pack stands against a well-coached, veteran-led Big East squad.
This game should offer a good early test of NC State’s ability to execute away from home against a program that knows how to compete. Seton Hall is talented and coached well—a legitimate non-conference challenge the Pack will need to be sharp for.
Leave a Reply