Feb. 25, 2007

Box Score

2007 A-10 WBB Bracket

PHILADELPHIA - Playing in her final game at Tom Gola Arena, senior Crista Ricketts scored 12 points in the overtime session to lead the La Salle University Women's Basketball team to a 75-66 victory over Saint Louis, Sunday afternoon in Atlantic 10 action.

 

The game was close the entire way - tied 15 times, 11 lead changes, and neither team held more than a four-point advantage - until the extra period, when Ricketts went on her own run, scoring nine straight La Salle points to put the Explorers up 64-57 with 2:36 left in overtime.

 

From the point on, La Salle converted 11-of-14 free throws - four by freshman Jamie Walsh and three by Ricketts - to seal the victory.

 

Ricketts finished with 21 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks, while her frontcourt mate junior Carlene Hightower scored a team-high 22 points, with seven boards, three assists and three steals.

 

This is the sixth time the pair has each hit for at least 20 points in the same game - tying the school record set by Jill Crandley and Linda Hester during the 1985-86 season. They also become the first duo to each score at least 400 points and grab 200 rebounds in the same season.

 

Saint Louis (12-16, 4-10 A-10) led for much of the first half, and after Amy Klotz hit her only shot of the game, with 5:54 before the break, the Billikens were up 21-17 - the largest lead of the game from that point to the overtime period.

 

La Salle responded with a Ricketts jumper 17 seconds later and Hightower stole the inbounds pass and scored on an easy lay-up to tie the game at 21-all. With 3:11 left before the half, freshman Morgan Robertson gave the Explorers their first lead at 26-25, after a bucket and free throw. 

 

The Explorers took a one-point lead into the locker room and scored the first basket - by junior Melanie Gibbons - of the second half to take its largest lead before the extra period at three.

 

The Billikens trailed 48-46 after a Hightower basket with 5:20 left, then Maggie Hennegan scored back-to-back baskets to put them ahead two with just over four minutes left and again gave Saint Louis another two-point lead at 54-52 with 1:35 left.

 

However, in a play almost reminiscent to the one Thursday night which practically sealed the win, Ricketts had the ball on the left side of the lane, drove towards the basket, but kicked out to a wide open Walsh on the right baseline for a three-point basket which gave La Salle the lead 55-54 with 36 ticks left.

 

The Billikens had one last possession and Theresa Lisch drove to the basket, missed the shot, but was fouled with 10 seconds remaining. She made the first, but missed the second and La Salle would not get a shot off before the buzzer.

 

Ricketts opened up the overtime with a lay-up and a free throw, and another basket to put La Salle up 60-55. After a Saint Louis bucket, Ricketts knocked down a 15-footer and a short jumper in the paint to make it 64-57.

 

Lisch would score eight more points for Saint Louis in the overtime to record a game-high 25 points, to go along with six rebounds, five assists and two steals.

 

With the win, the Explorers tie the best mark ever at Tom Gola Arena (10-3, 2003-04), seniors Jenna Graber and Ricketts 57 for their career, the most since the class of 2000 left with 62, and finish at .500 in the conference for the first time since the 2000-01 season.

 

La Salle (19-10, 7-7- A-10) earns the eighth seed in the upcoming Atlantic 10 Championships in Cincinnati, OH and will face Dayton Friday with a 12 PM tip.

 

Carlene Hightower scored a team-high 22 points.

Jamie Walsh hit a key three down the stretch.

Jenna Graber scored eight points in her final game at Tom Gola Arena.