Dec. 28, 2010
La Salle Explorers at No. 19/22 Maryland Terrapins
Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2010 | 12:00 PM
Comcast Center | College Park, MD
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Gametracker | Terrapin Classic Info
La Salle Explorers (4-6)
Conference: Atlantic 10
The Explorers play their second of seven straight road games on Tuesday when they open play at the Terrapin Classic against host Maryland. The team last played a week ago, when the Explorers dropped a 65-62 decision at Seton Hall. They led through the majority of the first half and made a late-game run to draw within one before falling. Senior Ashley Gale posted her second double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Today marks the first ACC opponent for the Explorers since meeting up with Boston College on Dec. 16, 2007, when the Eagles won 66-60.
Gale continues to pace the Explorers in scoring with a 14.8 points per game clip, which also ranks her sixth in the Atlantic 10. She is pulling down 5.8 rebounds per contest as well as registering a league-best 3.5 steals per game. Nadia Duncan has upped her scoring average to 11.8 and is also second on the team in rebounds with 6.4 per contest. Ebonee Jones rounds out the double-digit scoring, chipping in 10.0 per game and adding 5.1 boards.
Rookie Michea Bryant has continued her hot streak. After averaging just 2.3 points per game through the first six contests, she has averaged 11.0 over the past four games. She scored a career-best 16 against Tulsa before adding 11 at Lafayette. She chipped in nine against Rider and scored eight points in just 19 minutes at Seton Hall before leaving the game early with an injury.
Jess Koci continues to be a defensive force for the Explorers, pulling down 8.3 rebounds per game which ties her for fourth in the Atlantic 10. She also chips in 8.0 points per game.
No. 19/22 Maryland Terrapins (10-1)
Conference: Atlantic Coast
The Terrapins, among the youngest teams in the nation with no seniors, come in to today's contest with a 10-1 record and a perfect 5-0 home record. Their lone loss of the season was at Georgetown, one of two common opponents so far for the Terps and Explorers. Nine of the Terps' 10 wins have been by double-digit margins, including a 30-point romp of Delaware State in their last time out.
Three Terps average in double-figure scoring, with Lynetta Kizer leading with 12.7 points per game. Alyssa Thomas adds 12.4 and Tianna Hawkins chips in 10.4. Kizer also leads the squad in rebounding with 7.5 boards per game, followed closely by Alicia DeVaughn with 7.3. DeVaughn has also registered a team-best 14 blocks so far this season.
La Salle is one of three Atlantic 10 opponents for the Terps this season. Maryland won an 82-50 decision over Massachusetts on Nov. 27, and will visit Saint Joseph's on Jan. 2.
