NEWARK, N.J. (Interstat) — Mariana Valenzuela scored 20 points to lead Seton Hall to a 69-63 win over Auburn in a nonconference women’s basketball game Sunday at Prudential Center. The Pirates improved to 6-3 overall, while the Tigers fell to 8-3. Seton Hall built a 32-24 halftime lead and maintained a narrow advantage throughout the second half, despite a 23-point third-quarter push from Auburn. Valenzuela added eight rebounds for the Pirates. Kaitlyn Duhon led Auburn with 20 points and eight rebounds. Both teams shot effectively from three-point range, with Seton Hall making 12 of 26 and Auburn hitting 11 of 25. The Pirates scored 69 points on 69 possessions, while Auburn managed 63 points on 70 trips. Attendance was 838.

Auburn, Seton Hall Seek Momentum in Nonconference Clash NEWARK, N.J. (Interstat) — The Auburn Tigers look to rebound from their first losing streak of the season when they visit the Seton Hall Pirates at Prudential Center on Sunday in a nonconference women’s basketball matchup. Auburn (8-2) arrives having dropped two straight, including a 66-60 overtime loss at Syracuse on Dec. 3. Before that, the Tigers fell 58-53 to Oregon at home. Their early season was marked by a six-game winning streak featuring defensive stands, holding four opponents under 52 points. Seton Hall (5-3) has also stumbled recently, coming off a narrow 54-53 home loss to Columbia on Tuesday. That followed a 53-61 defeat at North Carolina State. The Pirates’ offense has shown potency, scoring 78 points or more in three games, but consistency has been an issue. A key matchup will feature Auburn guard Kaitlyn Duhon against Seton Hall’s Savannah Catalon. Duhon is coming off a 15-point effort in 35 minutes against Syracuse and leads the Tigers’ backcourt. Catalon has been a primary scorer for the Pirates, averaging 15.8 points over her last five games, including a 24-point performance at Princeton. For Auburn, forward Harissoum Coulibaly provided a bright spot in the Syracuse loss, scoring a team-high 17 points. Seton Hall will rely on guard Jada Eads, who added 15 points in the Columbia game, to support Catalon. This game serves as a final tune-up before both teams enter a demanding stretch. Auburn opens Southeastern Conference play at Mississippi State on Jan. 1. Seton Hall begins Big East Conference play at Villanova on Dec. 19, followed by a showdown at reigning national champion Connecticut on Jan. 3. Sunday’s contest offers both teams a chance to correct recent shortcomings and build confidence. Auburn will aim to rediscover its defensive identity, while Seton Hall hopes to protect its home court and secure a resume-boosting victory against a power-conference opponent. Tip-off is set for Sunday afternoon at Prudential Center, the home of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets.