TAMPA, FL - Looking to start the season 2-0 for the first time since the 2001-02 season, the La Salle University Women's Basketball team dropped a 60-54 decision to Texas-Arlington in the final day of the Image Depot Shootout hosted by South Florida University, Sunday afternoon.

 

Sophomore Carlene Hightower (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Prendergast), who followed her 14-point effort Saturday night, led the Explorers by recording her second double-double of her career, with team-highs in points, 16 - which also tied her career-high, and rebounds, 11. For her efforts, she was named to the All-Shootout Team.

 

In a start completely opposite of their first game, the Explorers were held to just five points through the first eight minutes, all from junior Jenna Graber (Clarksburg, NJ/Peddie School), as Texas-Arlington built a seven-point lead. At the same point on Saturday, La Salle had 14 points, and held a five-point lead of its own.

 

Two made foul shots by senior Shaune McLaughlin (Somers Point, NJ/Mainland Regional) and a Davineia Payne (Bear, DE/Caravel Academy) basket cut into the deficit, but two straight three pointers by the Mavericks pushed their lead to nine.

 

To make matters worse, junior Crista Ricketts (Douglasville, PA/Daniel Boone) was sent to the bench for the rest of the half after picking up her third foul at the 7:59 mark. But the Explorer underclassmen picked up the slack to keep the Mavericks close.

 

Freshman Tara Lapetina (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Carroll) hit a pair of threes, Hightower scored five points, and freshman Antonia Gale (Glenside, PA/Cheltenham) hit two free throws to get the Explorers within three just before the half. But, Kristi Dudley hit a own free throw to give Texas-Arlington a 28-24 halftime lead.

 

Texas Arlington (1-1), who lost its first game of the tournament to host South Florida 74-50 in Saturday's nightcap, never allowed the Explorers within the halftime margin and opened a 13-point lead with under nine minutes left in the game.

 

The Mavericks made the most of their missed shots (44) as they scored 23 second-chance points off of 23 offensive rebounds. Terra Wallace led the team with 18 points, while Tojjinay Thompson added 10 points and Dudley grabbed 12 rebounds.

 

La Salle (1-1) clawed its way back into the game, making it a two-possession game with under a minute to play, when Payne scored on a lay-up with 27 seconds remaining, cutting the deficit to 58-53, but the Explorers would never get closer.

 

Lapetine scored nine points, while connecting on three-of-four from three-point land. Ricketts was held to just two made free throws, but still collected 10 rebounds.