The Setters basketball teams kicked off their seasons with weekend road trips.

As the women’s team took on NYIT and LIU Post on Fri., Nov. 14 and Sat., Nov. 15 respectively, the men’s team took on the University of Rhode Island on Friday followed by two games in the STAC Tournament against Molloy College and St. Thomas Aquinas College.

On the men’s side, transfers Kyle Pearson and Shelton Mickell led the way in the first game of the season against the University of Rhode Island, but the Setters ultimately fell to the Rams 94-54. Pearson netted 17 points and eight rebounds while Mickell shot for 10 points and three assists.

Saturday’s match-up with Molloy College proved to be a nail-bitter with Pace falling 59-57. Pace led the way for most of the game with Mickell and Mike Demello starting the off with a few three-pointers to give Pace the lead.

Pace continued to build on their lead in the second half and lead for most of the half until Molloy went on a 7-0 run in the last few minutes of the game to pull ahead 54-52. A clutch-layup by Mickell put the Setters two points away but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Lions.

Starting off 0-2 the men’s team notched their first win of the season against St. Thomas Aquinas, winning 75-68, improving their record to 1-2.

The Knights pulled ahead first, but Pace chipped away at the lead, rallying to a 27-11 run that saw Pearson net nine points along with six points from Mickell. Returning senior Jaylen Mann capped the run with a triple at the 7:17 mark to put Pace ahead at 28-18.

Come the second half Pace pulled ahead to a 20 point lead at 54-34 but the Spartans came right back to make 65-62 with just 1:26 left in the game.

Mickell converted a three-point play with 1:02 left to extend Pace’s lead and then came-up clutch in the free throw line, hitting all six of his three throws to lock up the victory.

The women’s team finished up their road-trip 0-2.

Their Friday opener saw the women’s team take on the New York Institute of Technology, with the Setters coming back from a 13 point deficit in the second half, but they ultimately fell 70-65.

Newcomer Gabriella Rubin lead the way for the Setters in her collegiate debut netting 20 points with 18 contributing to the Setter’s run in the second half.

Veterans Margo Hackett and Yuni Sher netted 12 points each, while Sher pulled 11 rebounds for her first double-double this season.

Saturday’s game saw the Setters once again start off at a disadvantage, but they rallied in the second half to get to take the lead but it wasn’t enough as LIU Post earned the victory with a 58-56 score.

Hackett led the Setters with 18 points while also climbing up the leader-board in Pace records with four three-pointers. Her final triple tied her with alumni Lisa Welsome for fifth all-time in Setters history.

Trailing 11-2 early on, Pace went on a 20-4 run in the first half with 11 of Hackett’s 18 points contributing to the run.

Pace took a 32-25 lead into the half but the Pioneers came right back, ultimately taking a 58-55 lead with 1:11 remaining.

Both team’s return with their first home game of the season on Wed., Nov. 19 with both teams taking on the College of Saint Rose at the Goldstein Fitness Center. Game time will be 5:30 for the women’s team and 7:30 for the men’s.