Davineia Payne had nine points and eight boards in the win

Shaune McLaughlin had a career-high 14 assists

TAMPA, FL - In its first trip to the state of Florida since 1997, the La Salle University Women's Basketball team defeated Tennessee-Martin, 72-55, in the first game of the Image Depot Shootout, which ran the Explorers record in season openers to 30-4.

 

Junior Crista Ricketts (Douglasville, PA/Daniel Boone) and senior Davineia Payne (Bear, DE/Caravel Academy) proved why they were selected to the preseason All-Atlantic 10 teams. The pair combined for 35 points and 15 rebounds, while senior Shaune McLaughlin (Somers Point, NJ/Mainland Regional) recorded a career-high in assists, dishing out 14.

 

Ricketts tied a career-high with 26 points on 12-of-17 shooting from the floor. It was her 14^th career game with more than 20 points, her 43^rd game over 10 (in 54 games), and the 12 field goals made is a career-best.

 

Payne came close to recording her 12 double-double of her career with a nine-point, eight-rebound performance in the victory, while McLaughlin, whose previous high for assists in a game was eight at Providence (12/22/04), had as many by halftime.

 

The Explorers started the game on an 8-0 run, which included two fast-break lay-ups by Carlene Hightower (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Prendergast), and held the Skyhawks scoreless for the first four minutes. Hightower ended the game with 14 points.

 

Tennesee-Martin (0-1) would make its own run over the next two minutes, cutting their deficit to one at 8-7, but back-to-back baskets by Payne pushed the Explorer lead back to five and the Skyhawks would never get closer than three. The SKyhawks were led by Andreika Jackson, who scored 13 points, and Deina Willingham, who had 11 points and seven rebounds.

 

La Salle (1-0) held a 13-point halftime lead at 36-23, and were up 14 (49-35), before a 14-2 run over a five-minute span put the game out of reach.