Crista Ricketts scored 13 points and had six rebounds in the win

Shaune McLaughlin had five rebounds and three assists to go with her 13 points

, PA - All five La Salle University Women's Basketball starters scored in double figures, Sunday afternoon at Tom Gola Arena, as the Explorers defeated the visiting Wagner Seahawks, 77-53, in La Salle's home opener.

 

Tying for the game-high for the Explorers were seniors Davineia Payne (Bear, DE/Caravel Academy) and Shaune McLaughlin (Somers Point, NJ/Mainland Regional), and junior Crista Ricketts (Douglasville, PA/Daniel Boone), who all scored 13 points.

 

Payne and Ricketts also tied for the team-high with six rebounds each, and Payne also added six assists and two steals to her totals. McLaughlin had five rebounds and added three assists and two steals to her line.

 

Sophomore Carlene Hightower (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Prendergast) added 10 points and five rebounds for the Explorers, while junior Jenna Graber (Clarksburg, NJ/Peddie School) scored 11 points, hitting a trio of three pointers.

 

The Explorers scored the game's first points on a McLaughlin lay-up and never trailed in the game. La Salle used a 21-2 run over a seven-minute span capped by a basket by sophomore Melanie Gibbons (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) to push its lead to 29-8.

 

La Salle (2-2) shot 55.6% from the field in the first half, including hitting five three-pointers, while Wagner was just 10-of-28 from the floor and missed all seven of its threes in the first half, The Explorers held a 49-22 lead at the break, and the Seahawks would never get close than 17 points in the second half.

 

Off the bench, Gibbons scored seven points and had four boards, while sophomore Alyse Hoover (Lebanon, PA/Cedar Crest), playing in her first game of the season, also scored seven points and classmate Meghan Ahl (Bronx, NY/Preston) had four boards and four assists in the game.

 

Wagner (0-3) had three players hit double figures, including the game's top scorer Joy Gallagher, who scored 21 points and had five rebounds. Ali Ridge added 10 points and nine rebounds, while Chelsey Bunyer also had 10 points.

 

The Explorers are next in action Wednesday, Nov. 30, when they travel to Vestal, NY to take on Binghamton at 7 PM.