Philly Women’s College Basketball Week in Review & Awards

PHILLY WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL WEEK IN REVIEW

La Salle Sweeps Week, Penn Still Tied for Ivy Top Spot, Drexel Win Streak Ended, La Salle Saint Joseph’s and Villanova To Begin Conference Tournament Play

Games of February 25 – March 3, 2019

PhillyCollegeSports.com Player of the Week

Shalina Miller – La Salle – The junior forward set the La Salle women’s basketball program record for most blocked shots in a single season with 61.  Miller tied the record with a block at Saint Bonaventure, then with a career-high 6 at Mason, she surpassed the previous mark of 55 set by Linda French 33 years ago.  The Philadelphian averaged 11.5 points and 12.5 rebounds over the week.  Of her 25 rebounds 9 were off the offensive glass.  Miller converted 7 of 8 free throws against George Mason.

Honor Roll

Bailey Greenberg, Niki Metzel – Drexel

Jeryn Reese, Janay Sanders – La Salle

Princess Aghayere, Eleah Parker – Penn

Alyssa Monaghan – Saint Joseph’s

Alliya Butts, Marissa Mackins – Temple

Mary Gedaka, Jannah Tucker, Adrianna Hahn – Villanova

*Player of the Week and Honor Roll selections are made by Glenn Papazian, PhillyCollegeSports.com, Mel Greenberg, Women’s Hoop Guru, and Matt Leon, KYW Newsradio

Games of – February 25 – March 3, 2019

DREXEL 21 – 6 Overall, 13 – 3 CAA

Results – Lost 77 – 72 (3 OT) vs. William & Mary, Won 68 – 45 vs. Elon both at the DAC

Summary – The Dragons had their 12-game win streak come to an end with a triple overtime loss to the Tribe.  It was one of the three longest games in program history.  The longest was a five-overtime game against Northeastern in 2007.  Drexel played UNCW to three overtime periods in 2005.  The Dragons had three chances to win it with last chances in regulation, the first overtime, and the second overtime, but could not do it.  The winning streak was the 3rd longest in Drexel women’s basketball history.  They have won 16 straight twice.  The Dragons bounced back with a dominating won over Elon on Senior Day.  Seniors Eline Masschalck scored 9 points and Tereza Kracikova had 4 points and 6 rebounds in their last regular season game at the DAC.  Over the week Bailey Greenberg was the Dragons leading scorer 42 points.  She tied her career-high with 8 steals against William & Mary.  Niki Metzel set a career-high with 21 points in that game.  Drexel still can earn first place in the CAA visit 1st place JMU and 3rd place Towson next weekend.

Next Game – 3/7/2019 at James Madison

LA SALLE 6 – 24 Overall, 3 – 13 Atlantic 10, 0 – 4 Big Five

Results – Won 52 – 45 at Saint Bonaventure, Won 77 – 71 (OT) at George Mason

Summary – The Explorers are on a two-game win streak to end the Atlantic 10 regular season. Shalina Miller set the program record for most blocked shots in a single season with 61.  The previous best was held by Linda French in 1986 when she swatted 55 shots.  Miller had 17 points against GMU and pulled down 10 rebounds at SBU.  Jeryn Reese set a career-high of 16 rebounds and 10 points in Olean.  Janay Sanders had 13 points, but it was the La Salle defense that shined holding the Bonnies to 26.7% shooting and an LSU season-low in points allowed at 45.  Reese, a senior, tied her career-high in points scored at 22.  Other Explorers who set collegiate-bests at Mason were Kayla Spruill who scored 16 points, and Janay Sanders who handed out 9 assists.  La Salle gets the #13 seed in the A10 Tournament and will meet the #4 Dayton Flyers in Ohio.

Next Game – 3/5/2019 – at Dayton Atlantic 10 Tournament First Round

PENN – 20 – 5 Overall, 10 – 2 Ivy League, 3 – 1 Big Five

ResultsLost 68 – 53 vs. Princeton, Won 75 – 70 (OT) vs. Harvard, Won 56 – 52 vs. Dartmouth all at the Palestra

Summary – The University of Pennsylvania lost its hold on sole possession of first place in the Ancient Eight with a home loss to arch-rival Princeton, one of three games for the Quakers this week.  Kendall Grasela scored a career-high 11 points, all in the first half.  But it did not overcome 33 points from Tigers forward Bella Alarie.  Three nights later Penn had a rematch with Harvard, the team that handed the Red and Blue their first league loss.  It took overtime, but Penn avenged the earlier defeat that took an extra 10 minutes to complete.  The Quakers Michae Jones made 10 free throws in the overtime and went 13 of 15 overall form the line.  Phoebe Sterba hit back-to-back-to-back three-pointers to give Penn separation.  However, the Red and Blue survived a last three by Harvard to earn a win that clinched a berth in the Ivy League Tournament.  The week ended with Senior Night and a win over a stubborn Dartmouth team.  Penn took the lead late on a three-pointer from Katie Kinum and held on for the victory.  The front line of Princess Aghayere and Eleah Parker scored 22 and 19 points for the Quakers.  Penn has 20 wins for the seventh time under Coach Mike McLaughlin.

Next Game – 3/8/2019 at Yale

SAINT JOSEPH’S  11 – 18 Overall, 7 – 9 Atlantic 10, 1 – 3 Big Five

Results – Lost 68 – 59 at George Mason, Lost 51 – 41 vs. Fordham at the Hagan Arena

Summary – The Hawks dropped their final two regular season games of the season, but were able to earn the #8 seed in the Atlantic 10 Tournament.  They will get a home game against the #9 George Washington Colonials in the opening round.  The Hawks, GWU, and the UMass Minutemen finished 7 – 9, with the Hawks getting the 8th seed on tiebreakers.  Saint Joe’s was victimized by a 19 – 6 run by George Mason that closed the game.  SJU was plagued by cold shooting in the Fordham game.  Alyssa Monaghan totaled 18 points over the week. 

Next Game – 3/5/2019 vs. George Washington at the Hagan Arena Atlantic 10 Tournament First Round

TEMPLE 10 – 18 Overall, 6 – 9 American, 2 – 2 Big Five

Results – Lost 64 – 61 vs. Tulsa, Won 68 – 52 vs. Wichita State at McGonigle Hall

Summary – The Owls split the week.  Temple rallied from an 11-point deficit at Tulsa, but could not overcome the gap.  The Owls made 44% of their shots and half of their three-pointers.  However, 18 turnovers proved to be too much to bridge.  Mia Davis scored 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for her 11th double-double of the season.  Marissa Mackins had a career-best 19 points and she followed that with 15 against Wichita State. On Senior Day Alliya Butts scored a team-best 20 points giving her 32 for the week.  Davis added 11 against the Shockers.  Temple travels to Memphis for the regular season finale.  Seedings are still to be determined.  Presently, the Owls are tied for 6th place with the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at 6 – 9 in the American.  Both teams sit one game behind USF for 5th place.  Memphis is one of four teams tied at 5 – 10 for 8th place.  Too many scenarios to figure out, so let it play out on Monday night

Next Game – 3/4/2019 at Memphis

VILLANOVA  17 – 10, 8 – 8 Big East, 4 – 0 Big Five

Results – Won 68 – 63 at Xavier, Lost 62 – 60 (OT) at Butler

Summary – The Wildcats had a win and a loss on the final road trip of the regular season.  In the win at Xavier senior Jannah Tucker scored a career-best 22 points.  She made 7 of 12 field goal attempts, and made 6 of 10 from three-point land.  It was a collegiate-best in made three-pointers for Tucker.  Mary Gedaka recorded her second consecutive double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.  Nova went 4 for 4 from the free throw line down the stretch to seal the win.  The game at Butler went into overtime.  Nova had a chance to take the lead with 14 seconds left in regulation.  Kelly Jekot made one of two to tie the game.  On the extra five minutes Villanova went cold in the last two minutes which was costly.  Gedaka scored 15 points and Jekot added 16.  Adrianna Hahn posted 16 points and in the game she set the record for most career three-point field goals in conference games with 169.  The previous record of 168 in 2013 was held by Sugar Rodgers of Georgetown.  Villanova get the 5th seed in the Big East Tournament and will face the 4th seeded Georgetown Hoyas in the quarterfinals at the Wintrust Arena.

Next Game 3/9/2019 vs. Georgetown Big East Women’s Tournament Quarterfinal

Shalina Miller #25 On Defense

1 Comment

  1. So proud of my daughter Shalina Miller and LaSalle women’s basketball program. Although we didn’t tallie alot of wins, Coach Mountain has laid the foundation and the culture of Explorers basketball has been laid. #LIMITLESS

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