Team-Record 11 Three-Pointers Push Explorers to 86-66 Victory

Posted by: Marc Mullen

Jenna Graber scored a career-high 14 points in the victory.

Shaune McLaughlin scored 13 points and added five assists.

Davineia Payne had 12 points and five assists.

Crista Ricketts had 12 points and five rebounds.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - All five La Salle University Women's Basketball starters scored in double figures, Friday night at Tom Gola Arena, as the Explorers hit a team record-tying 11 three pointers to defeat visiting St. Bonaventure, 86-66, in Atlantic 10 action, ending their three-game home losing streak.

Sophomore Carlene Hightower (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Prendergast) recorded game-highs with 16 points and 12 rebounds. It was her second double-double of the season. 

Junior Jenna Graber (Clarksburg, NJ/Peddie School) scored a career-high 14 points, which included knocking down 4-of-5 three-point attempts, and added five rebounds.

Senior Shaune McLaughlin (Somers Point, NJ/Mainland Regional) hit 3-of-5 three-point baskets on her way to 13 points and added a five assists and four rebounds to her totals.

Senior Davineia Payne (Bear, DE/Caravel Academy) and junior Crista Ricketts (Douglasville, PA/Daniel Boone) both scored 12 points, as Payne also added five assists and Ricketts pulled down five boards.

It was the second time this season that the Explorers' starters all hit for double figures. The last time was a 77-53 victory over Rider on Nov. 27, 2005. It is also the most points scored by La Salle this season, passing the 77 points versus Rider. The 11 three-pointers made tie the mark set at Delaware (2001) and at Rhode Island (2005).

La Salle (6-8, 3-1 A-10) scored the game's first 15 points and held the Bonnies scoreless for the games first 5:45. Ricketts scored six points in the run and had 12 at the half. She was just 17 points shy of 1,000 for her career, but was shutout in the second half.

St Bonaventure (7-8, 1-3 A-10) bounced back and scored six straight points and after Priscilla Edwards hit a lay-up with 11:26 left in the first half, the Bonnies were down 17-8.

In last year's game, the Explorers held the Bonnies scoreless as the took a 14-0 lead. However, St. Bonaventure climbed back throughout the first half and were down just one at the half. They ended up winning that game, 82-77 in overtime.

That would not be the case this year, as the nine-point lead La Salle held would be the last time the Bonnies would be trailing by single digits.

The Explorers took a 19-point lead into intermission, as Payne banked in a three-pointer just before the halftime horn. They pushed it to as many as 21 points in the middle of the second half and cruised to the victory.

Off the bench, sophomore Alyse Hoover (Lebanon, PA/Cedar Crest) scored eight points and added two boards for La Salle. The 3-1 mark in the conference is ties the best start for the Explorers in the A-10. During the 1996-97 season, the Explorers started 6-1, went 12-4, and reached the semifinals of the conference tournament.

For the Bonnies, Priscilla Edwards finished with a team-high 14 points and three steals, while Ashley Edwards chipped in with 11 points, and team-highs of seven boards and five assists.

La Salle is next in action Monday, Jan. 16, when they host Rhode Island at 12 PM.

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