Dec. 31, 2009

La Salle Explorers vs. Penn Quakers
Date: Saturday, January 2
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Location: Tom Gola Arena
Game: Big 5, Non-conference

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La Salle Explorers (4-9, 0-1 Big 5)
Conference: Atlantic 10

The La Salle Explorers return to Tom Gola Arena on Saturday, Jan. 2 to host their second Big 5 matchup of the season against the Penn Quakers. The Explorers hosted Villanova back on Dec. 22, but an 8-0 run midway through the second half pushed the Wildcats to victory, 44-41.

The Explorers return home after competing in the Hawk Holiday Classic presented by Staybridge Suites and Hotels. Jamie Walsh poured in game-highs with 15 points and five assists to lead La Salle to a 65-51 victory over Holy Cross on the tournament's first day. Antonia Gale followed up with 14 points, five rebounds and four assists and Morgan Robertson added 12 points and five boards. In the win, the Explorers shot 60.0 percent from the field which is the best shooting percentage since Feb. 22, 2007 when they shot 61.4 percent in a 71-62 victory over Charlotte.

La Salle returned the next day and met up with host Monmouth in the championship game, but a 39-14 second half surge by the Hawks prevented the Explorers from winning the matchup, 57-49. Robertson posted her first double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds and Ashley Gale contributed 10 points and six boards.

Saturday's contest opens up a two-game homestand for the Explorers (Penn, Princeton) before kicking off conference play at Richmond on Saturday, Jan. 9.

Penn Quakers (0-9, 0-1 Big 5)* * Record as of Wednesday, Dec. 30
Conference: Ivy League

The Penn Quakers head to Tom Gola Arena on Saturday looking for their first Big 5 victory of the season. The Quakers were handed a 44-28 loss to Villanova back on Nov. 18.

It has been a tough start for Penn kicking off the 2009-10 season with nine consecutive losses. In their most recent contest, the Quakers came up short when they lost to Mount St. Mary's at home on Tuesday, 60-48. Despite the loss, Caitlin Slover led all participants with 16 points and Sarah Bucar followed up with 10 points, three rebounds and three assists for Penn. The Quakers did manage to double the amount of offensive rebounds for Mount St. Mary's, 18-9, and also outscored the Mount in second chance points, 15-8, but the deciding factor was Penn's 26.7 percent shooting from the floor.

Bucar leads the team in scoring at 10.8 points per game and Jess Knapp paces the team in rebounding at 5.6 per game. The Quakers are shooting 31.7 percent from the field and 19.5 percent from beyond the arc.