Feb. 20, 2009
La Salle Explorers vs Dayton Flyers
Date: Saturday, February 21
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: University of Dayton Arena
Game: Conference
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La Salle Explorers (10-16, 1-10)
Conference: Atlantic 10
The La Salle Explorers wrap up their two-game road swing on Saturday as they prepare to take on the Dayton Flyers at UD Arena. The Explorers’ Ohio road trip began on Wednesday afternoon as they matched up with No. 17/16 Xavier Musketeers. The Explorers tried to hang on but eventually fell in the end to the conference’s top-seeded team, 72-42. In the loss, both senior Margaret Elderton and junior Jamie Walsh each chipped in with 11 points, while combining for five assists, three rebounds and three steals. Elderton and Walsh are two of the top four scorers for La Salle this season, with Elderton ranking second (11.1 ppg) and Walsh following up in fourth (9.5). In the frontcourt for the Explorers on Wednesday, freshman Jenna Gilbert added six points, on 2-of-5 shooting, and junior Morgan Robertson added four points and four boards. The Explorers were outrebounded, 40-22, and were also outnumbered in assists, 19-8. Last season, two free throws separated the Explorers and Flyers as Dayton won on the road, 45-43. In the loss, Elderton and Walsh combined for 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists. The Explorers’ defense allowed Dayton to shoot only 27.6 percent from the field.
Dayton Flyers (15-12, 4-7)
Conference: Atlantic 10
The Dayton Flyers look to snap a two-game losing skid on Saturday as they host the Explorers. After winning back-to-back home games against Massachusetts and Fordham, the Flyers fell to No. 21/19 Xavier on the road, 78-57, and then to Richmond, 60-51. In the loss to the Spiders on Wednesday, freshman Justine Raterman was one of two participants in the contest to record a double-double, ending with a game-high 18 points, on 6-of-10 shooting, and a team-high 10 rebounds. Raterman also connected on four three-pointers on the evening, marking a game-high. Sophomore Kristin Daugherty was the second and final Flyer to reach double-digits with 11 points. Daugherty is ranked first on the team in scoring (13.3 ppg) and fourth in rebounds (5.1 rpg). Despite getting outrebounded by Richmond, 51-32, the Flyers shot a higher percentage both from the field (.375) and from the charity stripe (.714). On the season, Dayton holds a +2.1 scoring margin and a +2.6 rebounding margin over its opponents. Prior to conference play, the Flyers recorded four straight victories on two separate occasions.
Eye on an Explorer: Ashley Gale
In Wednesday’s loss to the Musketeers, sophomore Ashley Gale connected on one three-pointer, pulled down a team-high six rebounds and recorded a game-high tying two steals. Gale hit the game-winning three-pointer at Penn back on Monday, Jan. 5 as she ended the night with a team-high 20 points in addition to a game-high tying seven boards. On the season, Gale is ranked first on the team in steals (1.6), second in rebounds (3.6), third in scoring (9.8), third in three-point percentage (.331) and third in free throw percentage (.846).
Key Matchup: Morgan Robertson vs Justine Raterman
The primary matchup in this game will take place in the frontcourt between La Salle junior Morgan Robertson and Dayton freshman Justine Raterman. Robertson has recorded 10 double-doubles on the season and leads the Explorers in both points (12.5) and rebounds (8.3). For the Flyers, Raterman is second on the team in scoring (13.1) and first in rebounds (9.0). Against Charlotte last Saturday, Robertson poured in a career-high 26 points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. In the second game of the season for the Flyers, Raterman scored a season-high 27 points against Old Dominion.
