Owls play spoiler on Senior Day

By Justin Walters
Collegian Editor

For seniors Nadia Duncan and Michelle McCaughern, their Senior Day against conference foe Temple would be far from the most revered memory held at 20th and Olney. After suffering a 30-point rout at the hands of Duquesne, Temple duplicated a similar result ruining the final home game for these two Explorers.
The Owls used an early offensive frenzy, to put the score at 24-6. A pair of back-to-back threes by sophomore Michea Bryant and freshman Jordan Mosley trimmed the large deficit for the women’s basketball team, but the Explorers still found themselves in a 31-18 hole heading into the half.
Hoping to re-control the lead, La Salle cut the Temple lead to nine twice early in the second half, but the Owls proved why they stood at top of the Atlantic 10 through their resiliency. After an 11-0 run, Temple used this spark to seal the deal for good. Combining their 50.9 shooting percentage for game and out-rebounding the Explorers 44-31, the Owls sailed to a 71-44 A-10 victory.
Leading the points column for La Salle in the loss was Mosley with 12 points and Bryant who added 10.
Despite undergoing their worst home loss of the year, the Blue and Gold already locked up a seed in the 2012 Buick Atlantic 10 Championship. With a 7-7 Atlantic 10 record, La Salle garnered the No. 8 seed and will face the No. 9 seed Xavier Musketeers in the first round of play.
The home loss to the Owls may have been disheartening for Duncan as it was her last home game, but she has already focused her mind on the bigger picture. When asked what her team’s main objective for this upcoming game was, Duncan was short and concise. “Our goal is to win and then win the tournament,” said the fourth year player.
With previous success in a 63-51 victory over Xavier earlier in the season, La Salle will enter this tournament looking to add more accolades to their resume. Along with being a part of La Salle’s six-game win streak, the program’s best streak since 2006, Coach Williams’ unit this year has also tied the team’s best Atlantic 10 season record since the 2006-‘07 season.
Still with a sour taste in their mouth from last year’s 79-55 crushing loss to Saint Joseph’s in the opening round, the Explorers aspire to advance much further than last year’s early exit. With a win on Friday, the Explorers would advance to the quarterfinal round to face the top-seeded Bonnies at noon on Saturday.
It’s win or go home and the Blue and Gold are aware what’s at stake. For some, like junior transfer Brittany Wilson, it will be her first sign of tournament play, but the squad’s leading scorer is geared up to make noise in her premier at the Musketeers.
“I want to redeem myself in the tourney after the loss against Temple,” said Wilson, who led the Explorers with 28 in their last match against Xavier.
Hopefully for La Salle, Wilson and her team will be able to repeat their previous result against Xavier on Friday at 11:30 a.m. at Saint Joseph’s Hagan Arena.

waltersj1@student.lasalle.edu