La Salle Explorers vs. Florida Gators
Courtyard LaGuardia Turkey Classic
Hosted by Long Island University
Friday 11/25 | 4 p.m.
Brooklyn, N.Y.
La Salle Explorers at Long Island Blackbirds
Courtyard LaGuardia Turkey Classic
Hosted by Long Island University
Saturday 11/26 | 4 p.m.
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Live Stats Twitter @GoExplorers_com | Game Notes
PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle women's basketball team heads back on the road, this time traveling to Brooklyn to compete in the Courtyard LaGuardia Turkey Classic at Long Island University. The Explorers tip off against Florida on Friday at 4 p.m., and will play host LIU on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Friday marks only the second-ever meeting of the Explorers and Gators, the last coming in 2003 when the teams squared off in the Boston Invitational. Florida took that contest 90-65. La Salle owns a perfect 5-0 all-time record over Long Island in a series dating back to 1981. The teams last met in Brooklyn two years ago, with the Explorers taking a 77-73 overtime win.
Scouting the Explorers...
The Explorers (2-3) are fresh off of a 58-47 win over Big 5 rival Penn.
Michea Bryant tied a career high with 16 points to lead all scorers after earning the start.
Alexis Scott also added 13 points, while
Ruvanna Campbell posted her second straight 11-rebound, 4-block game. The win over Penn snapped a three-game skid, with two of those three losses coming against BIG EAST teams including #15/15 Rutgers. Scott posted 18 points in the narrow loss to the Scarlet Knights, and
Brittany Wilson recorded five steals to move up to fifth in the Atlantic 10 in that category.
Scott leads the squad with 11.2 points per game while chipping in 3.8 rebounds. Rookie
Jada Payne averages 10.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Campbell ranks first in the Atlantic 10 in blocked shots with 3.2 per game (16 total).
Scouting the Gators...
Florida (3-1) topped Hampton 63-46, led by Jaterra Bonds' 15 points and Jennifer George's double-double of 13 points and 14 rebounds. Ndidi Madu pulled down 11 rebounds, as the Gators smashed the boards with 53 rebounds to Hampton's 39. The Gators are also owners of a 72-58 win over Florida State, thanks to four players scoring in double figures led by George's 18 points. The team's only loss of the season was in the season opener, a 69-66 loss to Michigan.
Three players average double figures, led by George's 13.0 points per game. Jordan Jones adds 12.0 per game and Bonds chips in 10.3. George is also the team's leading rebounder with 7.5 boards per game.
Scouting the Blackbirds...
The Courtyard LaGuardia Turkey Classic marks the home opening weekend for Long Island (2-1) after opening with three straight on the road. The Blackbirds topped Drexel 60-52 in the season opener before dropping a 54-45 game at Hartford. They were at Tennessee Tech last Friday and came away with a narrow 62-60 victory. Ashley Palmer drained 23 points in the win over Tennessee Tech to lead a trio of double-digit scorers.
The Blackbirds open the Thanksgiving tournament with fellow Atlantic 10 member Charlotte on Friday.
Palmer averages 16.0 per game along with 7.5 rebounds. Ebony Davis also averages double figures with 11.3 per game, and is the team's leading rebounder with 9.0 boards per contest.
Next Up...
The Explorers will return to Tom Gola Arena next Sunday (12/4) to host another Big 5 game as they take on Villanova at 2 p.m.
