La Salle Explorers at Dartmouth Big Green
35th Annual Blue Sky Classic
Hosted by Dartmouth College | Hanover, N.H.
Thursday 12/29 | 7 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video |
Twitter @GoExplorers_com
La Salle Explorers vs. Vermont Catamounts
35th Annual Blue Sky Classic
Hosted by Dartmouth College | Hanover, N.H.
Friday 12/30 | 5 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video |
Twitter @GoExplorers_com
Tournament Notes
HANOVER, N.H. - The La Salle women's basketball team returns from a week off for the Christmas holiday tonight when the Explorers open play at the 35th Annual Blue Sky Classic, hosted by Dartmouth College. The Explorers tip off against the host Big Green at 7 p.m. tonight, and follow up with a game against Vermont on Friday (12/30) at 5 p.m.
The Explorers and Big Green have met just once before, with their only meeting coming in 1982 at the Dartmouth Invitational. Dartmouth won that contest 65-63. The Explorers and Catamounts have only met twice in the series history, in 1982 also as part of the Dartmouth Invitational before meeting again in 1984 at the Siena Invitational. The Explorers own a 2-0 record over the 'Cats.
Scouting La Salle (3-9)...
The Explorers dropped a 55-52 heartbreaker to Fairfield in their last time out. After spotting the Stags a 16-point lead, the Blue & Gold rallied back to within a point before falling.
Brittany Wilson led the squad with 15 points,
Alexis Scott added 14 and
Nadia Duncan chipped in 10, while
Ruvanna Campbell tied her season and career high with 12 rebounds.
Scott is leading the squad with 13.7 points per game, thanks to a 33-point output at Drexel on Dec. 19 to smash her previous career best of 21. She ranks tied for seventh in the Atlantic 10 in scoring. Wilson remains the other Explorer in double figures, averaging 11.4 per contest and has racked up a team-best 22 steals to rank sixth in the A-10. Rookie
Jada Payne, the only Explorer to have started every game this season, chips in 7.6 points and 4.5 rebounds.
Ruvanna Campbell is up to 26 blocks on the season, averaging 2.4 per contest to rank second in the conference. She also pulls down a team-best 8.0 rebounds per game, which ties her for seventh in the A-10.
Scouting Dartmouth (2-8)...
Dartmouth took a swing out to California just before the holiday, dropping contests at both Long Beach State and California. The Big Green look to snap a six-game skid, as their last win came back on Nov. 22, a 72-62 win at Vermont.
The Big Green have struggled to score this season, averaging just 47.5 points per game while giving up 64.1. Faziah Steen leads the squad with 14.6 points per game, but is the only player averaging double figures. Tia Dawson adds 6.4 ppg and Nicola Zimmer chips in 5.6.
Dawson leads on the defensive end, with 23 blocks and an average of 6.2 boards per game.
Scouting Vermont (6-5)...
The Catamounts wrap up their nonconference schedule against the Explorers before opening America East play against Stony Brook on Jan. 2. The 'Cats come into the weekend at 6-5, but are looking to snap a four-game skid of their own. They dropped a 71-60 contest at Marquette just before the holiday, and their last win came at Texas Southern over Thanksgiving weekend.
Lauren Buschmann leads the Catamount offense with 14.2 points per game, and is the only player in double figures. Kayla Burchill adds 9.4 and Sam Simononis chips in 9.1.
Buschmann and Shanai Heber lead the squad's defense with 7.5 boards per game each and Niki Taylor pulls down 6.3.
Next Up...
The Explorers continue their New England swing and wrap up the nonconference season with a contest at Northeastern on Jan. 2. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Atlantic 10 play starts on Jan. 7 when the team heads to Saint Louis.
