Explorers have plenty of weapons

By Anthony Bonagura
Collegian Staff
January 24, 2007

It is rare to find a team in which each player knows his or her specific role on the court and can translate that precise team chemistry into a winning organization. The La Salle women’s basketball team is one of those teams.

The Explorers (15-5, 3-2) have already won eight road games this season and still have a number of A-10 games to go. It’s the first time since 1996-97 in which the women have won eight games on the road. The 1996-97 team finished with a remarkable 21-7 record.

“Winning on the road is very challenging, but when we have key assets in seniors Crista Ricketts and Jenna Graber, their leadership helps us win close games on the road,” head coach Tom Lochner said.

The only losses for La Salle have come against Vanderbilt (a top 25 team), Quinnipiac, Delaware, Saint Joseph’s and Massachusetts. Presently, the Explorers hold a notable 7-1 home record, and away from the Tom Gola Arena, they are 8-4.

Junior Carlene Hightower (18.2 ppg, 7.3 rpg) was named A-10 and Big 5 Player of the Week on Jan. 15. During that span, Hightower posted outstanding numbers of 24.0 ppg, 9.7 rpg and 4.0 apg. It was her first time being honored by the Atlantic 10 and second time by the Big 5. Hightower was last named Big 5 Player of the Week on Feb. 2, 2005.

“Carlene is playing fantastic,” Coach Lochner said. “She worked hard during the offseason, and because of her dedication, her hard work is being displayed on the floor each night.”

It was the fourth weekly honor from the A-10 for the Explorers. Before Hightower, senior Crista Ricketts (17.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg) claimed the team’s first three A-10 Player of the Week awards. It is the second time in school history that two different players have been named A-10 Player of the Week in the same season.

Ricketts and Hightower have been the two main scoring threats for the Explorers this season, going back and forth for the high scores in each game. Hightower is the first Explorer in 20 years to post five straight 20-point games and is near the top of the A-10 in points, rebounds, steals, blocks, field goal percentage and free throw percentage. Through mid-January, Hightower has already recorded four double-doubles on the season.

However, it’s not all Ricketts and Hightower. Jenna Graber (7.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg) adds to the contribution night in and night out by shooting 44 percent from behind the arc. Also, she is near perfect from the free throw line, shooting 93 percent.

Opponents cannot forget about how well the Explorers can dominate from three-point range. The Explorers have three players shooting over 40 percent from downtown. Graber, sophomore Tara Lapetina and freshman Jamie Walsh chip in by shooting the long ball on a daily basis.

With wins against Villanova, Penn, Drexel and Miami (Ohio), to name a few, the Explorers are moving in the right direction. They have accomplished so much already this season, but the ultimate goal is to finish strong moving into the Atlantic 10 Tournament.

bonaguraa1@lasalle.edu