The 2012 Atlantic 10 tournament quarterfinals kick off with a #8/#9 match up between the LaSalle Explorers and Xavier Musketeers. Pickin’ Splinters is court side bringing you scores, stats, analysis, insights – we might even get a quote or two from players or coaches.
Grab a seat on the Pine for the day. Come early. Stay late. Check back often. Make sure to hit your refresh button.
#8 La Salle (13-16/7-7) vs. #9 Xavier (8-19/5-10)
The Explorers won the only meeting this year: 63-51 on January 14, 2012.
La Salle roster
# Name …………………Yr… Ht ……………. PPG RPG APG
01 Brittany Wilson ….R-Jr. 5-10 ………….13.6 4.6 2.5
02 Siobhan Beslow…… Fr. 6-0…………………. – – –
03 Michea Bryant ………So. 5-5 …………..4.3 1.9 1.7
04 Nikki Ortiz …………….Jr. 5-5 …………….0.3 1.0 0.4
05 Nadia Duncan ……….Sr. 5-8…………….. 8.2 4.1 0.8
10 Jordan Mosley ………Fr. 5-9 …………….5.4 2.1 1.0
12 Ruvanna Campbell ….Fr. 6-2 ……………. 3.1 8.0 1.1
13 Indigo Dickens………. Fr. 6-3 …………… 0.9 0.9 0.1
14 Ebonee Jones …………Jr. 5-10…………. 1.8 1.2 0.4
20 Jada Payne …………….Fr. 6-2 ………….. 8.8 3.6 1.3
21 Alexis Scott………….. R-Jr. 5-9 ………… 12.0 3.1 1.2
31 Jess Koci ………………..So. 5-11 ………… 1.9 3.0 0.5
32 Omaah Tayong …………Fr. 6-3 …………. 0.8 1.3 0.0
40 Michele McCaughern.. Sr. 5-10 ………..0.6 0.9 0.1
Xavier Roster
0 Moss, Tyeasha 5-9 G Sr. Columbus, Ohio (Africentric)
1 O’Neill, Ty 5-6 G Jr. Beebe, Ark. (Beebe/Chipola College)
2 Gray, Amber 6-1 F r-Jr. West Chester, Ohio (Lakota West/Tennessee)
3 Hawkes, Shatyra 5-3 G So. Baltimore, Md. (St. Frances Academy)
12 Pachko, Jessica 6-2 F r-Jr. Cincinnati, Ohio (Oak Hills/Marquette)
13 Wanninger, Ashley 5-10 G So. Cincinnati, Ohio (Colerain)
22 Johnson, Sabrina 6-2 C r-Sr. Jeffersonville, Ind. (Jeffersonville/Gulf C CC)
34 Walker, Latisha 6-2 C So. Cleveland, Ohio (Lutheran East)
42 Crouch, Lakeisha 6-0 F r-Fr.
Sorry for the late start fans, but we are here now. Xavier leads La Salle 28-21 at the half. Xavier has only gone 6 deep thus far, with Amber Gray leading the way with 9 points. Jessica Pachko and Lakeisha Crouch have dominated the glass, combining for 15 rebounds (the same number as La Salle has as a team)
Brittany Wilson leads the Explorers with 9 points, 6 rebounds , and 3 steals.
Both teams have struggled from the field, combining to make only 18 of 55 shots. The winner of this game draws top seeded St. Bonaventure tomorrow.
Buckle up for constant updates as we are 5 minutes from the second half.
Xavier uses stingy man to man defense to extend the advantage to 32-23. Moss and Wanninger registered blocked shots, as La Salle couldn’t muster any good looks.
La Salle connects on their second three pointer of the afternoon and apply a full court press. The change in pace initially rattles the Musketeers, but they adjusted quickly. Xavier holds a 38-32 advantage with 11.5 minutes remaining. A Jones triple cut the lead to its lowest since the intermission
Xavier is dominating the painted area. They learned they could do this against La Salle when the two teams squared off in mid January, when Xavier held an 18 point edge in points in the paint. La Salle’s perimeter game (paced by 28 points from Wilson) was able to bail out the Explorers during that game, and they need to catch fire soon if they want to advance to tomorrows quarterfinals.
Great pass from Duncan cuts the lead to 4, and she follows with an aggressive take to the bucket. La Salle is battling on both ends now, with the momentum in their favor.
The tide has turned and now it is the Musketeers that appear uncomfortable, as they call a second timeout. La Salle trails by 1, but are in the bonus the rest of the game.
Jada Payne with a cold blooded three from straight on. La Salle takes its largest lead since the 10:37 mark in the first half. 40-38 Explorers with 7:43 remaining.
the lead is bouncing back and forth, with Sabrina Johnson making FT’s and Alexis Scott knocking down a deep deuce.
Amber Grays efficiency (4/5 FG and 6/7 FT) keeps Xavier ahead, while Nadia Duncan committs her fifth and final foul.
La Salle has won the battle of the benchs, but it will need to be their starting five if they want to overcome this 45-44 deficit with 3:30 left.
Ask and you shall recieve. Brittany Wilson cans a three, giving the Explorers a 47-45 advantage with 3:17 to play.
Moss gives Xavier the lead with a driving right handed lay up – 2 minutes remaining.
Steal and layup for Wilson, and we are all even!
Another steal, another layup! andddddddd 1. Explorers leader gives her squad a 52-49 lead with 22.8 seconds remaining.
Shot from Moss is blocked, and a put back by Gray no good. Ruvanna Campbell at the line for 2.
She misses both, but the half court heave from Xaiver is off the mark. La Salle wins 52-49 and will square off against SBU tomorrow afternoon.