La Salle v. Lehigh Live Stats
La Salle v. Lehigh Game Notes (PDF)
 
PHILADELPHIA – The women's basketball team will begin its 2011-12 campaign by facing Lehigh on Friday afternoon at Tom Gola Arena.  Tip off is set for 3:00 p.m. and the contest will be streamed live on GoExplorers.tv.
 
The Explorers are coming off an Atlantic 10 Tournament berth in head coach Jeff Williams' first season at the helm.  They lost their leading scorer, Ashley Gale, to graduation, but return four starters from last season's team, including All-Rookie selection Jess Koci.
 
Also returning will be senior Nadia Duncan, juniors Alexis Scott and Ebonee Jones and sophomore Michea Bryant, all of whom saw significant playing time last season.
 
However, it will be a young team, with six freshmen joining the squad in the offseason.  Newcomers Jada Payne and Jordan Mosley are among those who are expected to make an immediate impact.
 
The Mountain Hawks, the three-time defending Patriot League regular season champions, were picked to finish second in the conference's preseason poll.  They are coming off a 20-win season and WNIT berth.
 
Lehigh will be led by returning starters Emily Gratch and Alexa Williams.  The team will have to make up for the loss of its two leading scorers from last season.  
 
The Explorers will then head to Albany for the Great Danes' home opener at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
 
Coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson begins her sophomore season, just as Williams, after leading the Great Danes to the America East quarterfinals last year.
 
Albany was picked to finish fourth in the America East Conference's preseason poll and returns two all-conference honorees in Julie Forster and Ebone Henry, who was also named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year.  Henry was the team's leading scorer last season, with 14.6 point per game.