Nov. 12, 2010
PHILADELPHIA - La Salle Women's Basketball first-year Head Coach Jeff Williams will open the 2010-11 season when he takes the Explorers across town today face the Villanova Wildcats in The Pavilion at 4 PM.
Williams has over 20 years of college coaching experience, including the last 16 as a women's basketball coach in which his teams have reached seven NCAA and three WNIT Tournaments. He recruited or coached six players who reached the WNBA, including Pitt All-American Shavonte Zellous, who was named to the WNBA all-rookie team in 2009. Three of his recruiting classes have been ranked in the top 15 nationally.
Starting off on the right foot has been a tradition for first-year coaches at La Salle as the former seven coaches were a combined 5-2 in their coaching debuts. The Explorers, as a team, have also faired well in season-openers overall, with a 32-6 mark all-time.
However, today's opponent, the Villanova Wildcats have proved quite difficult in the past, as they hold a 30-9 margin in the all-time series. La Salle, though, has won the last two meetings at The Pavilion - 74-62 (11/14/06) and 67-62 in OT (11/14/08). Ironically, this will be the third time in the last four seasons the two teams have met to start the Explorers season - the 2008 meeting and the 2007 season-opener, a 64-58 Villanova victory (11/9).
Key veterans back to the Explorers this season include a pair of seniors in Ashley Gale and Chelsea Conner.
Gale's career numbers include a 7.7 scoring average (585 points in 76 games), 3.5 rebounds per game (266), 107 assists, 41 blocks, and 105 steals. Last season, she led the team with 53 steals and 15 blocked shots, was second in rebounds with 120, and was third in points with (218) and assists (60), and all those numbers is tops among returners.
Conner, who is the Explorers' tallest player at 6-3, has been limited to just 46 career games, 64 points, 53 rebounds, 13 assists, 15 blocks, and four steals.
Junior Nadia Duncan, who played in all 29 games last year and cracked the starting line-up seven times, averaged 6.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per game last season. She led the Explorers with a 46.7% shooting percentage (70-150) and was second on the team in offensive rebounds (38). Her career numbers include 250 points in 56 games, 142 rebounds, 34 assists, 4 blocks, 27 steals.
After sitting out a year as a transfer, La Salle has Alexis Scott joining their line-up, who was a NEC All-Rookie Team selection at Monmouth, after scoring in double figures 12 times as a freshman.
La Salle will not have time for rest after the Villanova contest, as the Explorers will pack their bags for a trip to Baltimore to take on Loyola (MD) on Sunday at 5 PM.
