PHILADELPHIA, PA - Senior forward Crista Ricketts (Douglasville, PA/Daniel Boone) has been named Atlantic 10 Player of the Week after her efforts last week for the La Salle Women's Basketball team. It is her second straight honor from the conference, as she was named Co-Player of the Week Nov. 13. She was also named the Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Week, in its first release of the season.

 

In two wins last week, Ricketts was 19-for-32 from the floor and 11-of-12 from the foul line, while averaging a double-double for the week (24.5 ppg/13.0 rpg). She scored 23 points and had nine rebounds in the Explorers 74-62 win over Villanova, their first over the Wildcats in seven tries and their first at The Pavilion since 1988.

 

She then had 26 points and a career-high 17 rebounds in a 70-60 win at Sacred Heart, which ended the Pioneers 15-game home winning streak. In that game, Ricketts also passed former Explorer Jill Marano (2001-05) on the school's all-time scoring list, as she moved into 13th place all-time with 1,212 points.

 

With her start, Ricketts became the first Explorer in more than 20 seasons to start the year with three straight 20+ point games, which includes a career-high 27 points in the season-opening win at Albany, and the 17 rebound at Sacred Heart is the most by an Explorer since current La Salle Associate Head Coach Chrissie (Donahue) Doogan had 20 against Temple (2/6/96).

 

It is also her second career three straight 20+ point games, which she accomplished in February 2004. With the 26-point, 17-rebound effort at Sacred Heart, she increased her 20+ point games to 21 - La Salle is 16-5 in those games - and now has 14 career double-doubles.

 

This is the third time Ricketts has been named Player of the Week by the A-10 in her career. She also got a nod in January of 2005. During her freshman campaign (2003-04), she was named Rookie of the Week four times.

 

The senior, who has three postseason honors from the A-10, was tabbed to repeat her honor as a First Team All-Conference selection this season. After earning Rookie of the Year in 2004 and a Second Team selection in 2005, Ricketts was named to the A-10's First Team last season after scoring 13.8 points a game and grabbing 6.4 boards.

 

This season, she will be looking to become only the fourth Explorer in school history to reach 1,500 points in a career and could end up on the all-time top 10 list at the La Salle in 12 categories.

 

She is also a three-time All-Philadelphia Big 5 First Team member and if she repeats the honor again this season, she will becomet the first Explorer to earn a spot on the first team all four years.

 

Another interesting note for Ricketts, Melissa Sterry, who covered the Explorers in their game at Sacred Heart (click above on story or pictures) also mention Ricketts on her blog on WNBA.com (click on above).

 

La Salle, off to its first 3-0 start since 1999-2000 season and match its road win total from last season, will go for its fourth straight win and second in the Big 5, when they face Penn, Tuesday at The Palestra starting at 5:00 PM.