PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle women's basketball squad kicks off its 2012-13 campaign on Sunday when the Explorers host Loyola University Chicago at Tom Gola Arena at 1 p.m.

Loyola Chicago Ramblers (0-1) @ La Salle Explorers (0-0)
Tom Gola Arena | Philadelphia, Pa.
Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012 | 1 p.m.

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The Match-Up

The Explorers and Ramblers met last year in Chicago, with the Explorers taking a 48-45 win behind 15 points from current senior Brittany Wilson and 12 from current sophomore Jordan Mosley. La Salle now leads the series 6-1, with Loyola's lone win coming in 1994.

Coach Williams on the Game

"We have to come out with great energy and effort. We have to execute offensively and defensively. Loyola is a very good team, they played us tough last year. It was a tough game, so we have to come out with tremendous energy and effort."

Scouting the Explorers

La Salle returns just one starter from last year's squad that went 14-17 overall and 7-7 in the Atlantic 10, as 2011-12 Atlantic 10 Third Team pick and Big 5 First Team pick Brittany Wilson returns for her final year. Wilson averaged 14.0 points per game and is also the team's leading returning rebounder, averaging 4.8 boards at the guard position.

Shanel Harrison, a transfer from Virginia Tech, is now eligible and will provide a seasoned threat to the Explorers' opponents. Harrison led the Hokies in both scoring (12.2 ppg) and rebounding (5.5 rpg) in her final season in Blacksburg.

Michea Bryant looks to step back into a starting role to round out the Explorers' three-guard attack. Bryant chipped in 4.1 ppg and 1.9 rpg last season off the bench and was second on the team with 51 assists. She was also a reliable ball-handler, sporting a team-best 1.3 assist-to-turnover ratio.

The Explorers will also look to their freshmen to step up. Karynda DuPree, a 6-4 forward out of Milwaukee, looks to provide an immediate impact. DuPree averaged over 12 points, nine rebounds and four blocks per game in her senior season at Wisconsin Lutheran. Brittany Jenkins-Murray, a 6-3 forward out of Falls Church, Va., will vie for the starting role along with returning sophomore Indigo Dickens. Jenkins-Murray has big-time experience as she was part of a Riverdale Baptist squad that flirted with the No. 1 ranking in the country last season and boasted seven Division I signees. Both Jenkins-Murray and Dickens will look to provide size under the basket after the loss of Pitt transfer Leeza Burdgess to injury.

Scouting the Ramblers

Loyola Chicago opened its 2012-13 campaign on Friday night in the first of their two East Coast games this weekend. They dropped a 62-51 decision at Lafayette after owning a nine-point halftime lead. Patrice King and Simone Law paced the Ramblers with 11 points apiece.

King and Law were both named to the Horizon League Preseason Second Team after both earned All-Newcomer honors last season. Law led the team in scoring (13.8 ppg) and rebounding (7.2 rpg) last year, becoming the first Loyola freshman to lead the team in both categories. King, a transfer from Ball State, was second on the team with 11.8 ppg and dished out 2.5 assists per game.

The squad is predicted to finish fourth in the Horizon League standings.

Next Up

The Explorers remain at home for their second of three straight home games to start the season, as they host Northeastern on Thursday at 7 p.m.