Feb. 20, 2008

Box Score

KINGSTON, RI - Carlene Hightower had a career night for the La Salle University Women's Basketball team as the Explorers defeated Rhode Island, 64-54, at the Ryan Center Wednesday night in Atlantic 10 Conference action.

She scored a career-high 32 points on 11-of-20 shooting from the floor, including four three pointers, and was 6-of-8 from the foul line, while she also tied her career-high with 14 rebounds. This is the second straight game she has scored at least 30, becoming the first player since Jenn Cole to register 30 or more points in back-to-back games, as Cole did it Feb. 25 and 27, 1993.

As they did in their last game, the Explorers jumped out early with the game's first six points, as Morgan Robertson scored four of those on a 15-foot jump shot and two made free throws. But after the Rams battled back to make it a two-point game at 9-7, Margaret Elderton drained a three and Hightower scored on a driving lay-up in a 6-1 run to push La Salle back to a seven-point advantage (15-8) with 11:38 left before the half.

Rhode Island (11-15, 4-7 A-10) used a 10-3 run to draw even with the Explorers, as back-to-back three pointers by Megan Shoniker and Amanda McGrew first tied the game at 15-all, then at 18-apiece with 7:17 left before the break.

From that point, until the half, La Salle used a 13-5 run to take its largest lead of the game - to that point - of eight into the locker room. Hightower scored six straight points in the run, and then responded to a Sierra Cooper basket with a three pointer to give her 16 points in the opening stanza to go with eight boards.

La Salle scored the first 10 points to open the second half and used a 21-7 run to take its largest lead of the game of 22 at 52-30 with just under 11 minutes left in the game. Hightower scored 12 in the span, including a pair of three, while Ashley Gale also hit two three-point baskets.

The Rams would slowly cut into the Explorer advantage but never threatened the double-figure lead until late in the game. They used a 7-0 run in the last minute of play to cut the La Salle lead to eight.

But Hightower knocked down her last two points - on free throws - to give her the career high and give La Salle the double figure victory, marking the first time in since 1997 that the Explorers have beaten three straight A-10 opponents by double figures.

For Hightower, it was her fourth double-double of the season, 13th of her career. It was also her conference-leading third 30-point game of the season, and becomes the first Explorer since Cole (1992-93) to have more than two in one season, and her four career 30-plus games is the most since Cole's nine (1989-93).

Elderton scored 12 for the Explorers, while Gale hit 11 - her second straight game in double figures - and added five rebounds. Melanie Gibbons and Robertson each ended with four points, but pulled down nine and seven boards, respectively, as La Salle grabbed a season-high 44 rebounds.

La Salle (12-14, 4-7 A-10) will return home for its last two games at Tom Gola Arena this season, first hosting Xavier on Saturday at 1 PM, then Saint Joseph's on Wednesday - "Senior Night - starting at 7 PM.