Boston, MA - The La Salle University Women's Basketball team kicked off the 2003-04 season with a stunning 67-62 victory over the Texas A&M Aggies in the first round of the Boston University Invitational.
The Explorers took an early lead as junior guard Meghan Wilkinson (Downingtown, PA/Downingtown) grabbed the ball off the tip and went down to drain a three on La Salle's first possession. The Aggies answered right back with back to back buckets, including a three ball of their own by junior Mindy Garrison (San Marcos, TX/High).
Texas A&M held on to that lead for the remainder of the first half, and controlled the game with an extremely agressive and physical press defense that gave the Explorers trouble bringing the ball up the court. The Aggies led the game by as much as 12 points. Down ten points with a little over five minutes to go in the game, La Salle went on a 10-4 run to end the first half.
The Aggies went into their locker room up four at the half, led by Garrison who had 12 fist half points, all three point baskets.
Both teams came out slow, no team scored in the first three minutes of the second half, and then La Salle freshman Crista Ricketts (Douglasville, PA/Daniel Boone) exploded, scoring 13 points in just five minutes of play. The Explorers regained the lead at the 11:11 minute mark.
Ricketts led the way for the Explorers recording a double double in her first collegiate contest with 22 points and 11 rebounds.
The Aggies then trailed the Explorers until the 3:28 mark when they tied the ball game, but Texas A&M could not regain the lead and La Salle held on to win its first game of the season.
Also scoring in double digits for the Explorers were Wilkinson with 11, and fellow juniors Jill Marano (Crofton, MD/Arundel), and Monica Garrido Sanz (Majadahonda, Madrid/C.C. Majadahonda) both with 10. Garrido Sanz also pulled down five boards.
Sophomore Davineia Payne added eight points in the victory, as sophomore Shaune McLaughlin (Linwood, NJ/Mainland Regional) and senior Ekaterina Markova (Sophia, Bulgaira/Vassil Levski) combined for six.
La Salle will face the winner of the Boston University and University of Florida game taking place at 3:00 p.m.
