Philly Women’s College Basketball Week In Review – Games of December 28, 2015 – January 4, 2016

PHILLY COLLEGE SPORTS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL REVIEW

PhillyCollegeSports.com Women’s Basketball Player of the Week

Rachel Pearson, Drexel – For the first time in her career Pearson had consecutive 20-point plus performances.  She posted 22 points at Syracuse.  In setting and tying program records vs. The College of Charleston Pearson equaled a school record of eight made three-pointers and set a program record hoisting seventeen shots from beyond the arc.  The senior guard set a career-mark with 28 points in the conference opener.

Honor Roll

Meghan Creighton, Drexel

Amy Griffin, La Salle

Micahya Owens, La Salle

Michelle Nwokedi, Penn

Ciara Andrews, Saint Joseph’s

Alliya Butts, Temple

Feyonda Fitzgerald, Temple

Megan Quinn, Villanova

Adrianna Hahn, Villanova

Caroline Coyer, Villanova

* Player of the Week and Honor Roll selections are made by Glenn Papazian of PhillyCollegeSports.com and Woman Hoops Guru Mel Greenberg.

Games The Week of December 28, 2015  – January 4, 2016

LA SALLE 3 – 10 Overall, 0 – 1 Atlantic 10, 0 – 2 Big Five

Results –   Won 67 – 59 vs. Norfolk State, Won 65 – 50 vs. Monmouth both at the Hawk Holiday Classic in West Long Branch, NJ, Lost 60 – 43 vs. Richmond at The Tom Gola Arena

Summary –  Amy Griffin scored 16 and 20 points for the tournament champion La Salle Explorers in being named as the MVP of the Hawk Holiday Classic.  Micahya Owens scored 13 points in the title game to eclipse the 1,000 point plateau.  Griffin followed that performance with a game-high 24 points against Richmond.  The Explorers fell in that conference opening game at home.  Griffin was 11 for 20 and pulled down a game-best 9 rebounds.

Next Game – 1/6/2016 vs. Davidson at The Tom Gola Arena

PENN 9 – 2 Overall, 0 – 0 Ivy League, 0 – 1 Big Five

Results –  Won 73 – 41 at BYU Hawaii, Won 64 – 54 at Hawaii

Summary –  The University of Pennsylvania won both games on their Hawaiian trip turning in stout defensive performances in both games.  Penn held the Seasiders of BYU to 25% shooting and 35% against the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine.  Offensively, it was a big trip for Michelle Nwokedi who scored 39 points and grabbed 32 rebounds.  The 17 boards against the Seasiders was a career-high for Nwokedi.

Next Game – 1/9/2016 vs. Princeton at The Palestra

SAINT JOSEPH’S 6 – 7 Overall, 0 – 1 Atlantic 10, 2 – 1 Big Five

Results – Won 104 – 45 vs. UMBC, Won 76 – 66 vs. Central Michigan in the Hawk Classic, Lost 70 – 45 vs. George Washington at The Hagan Arena

Summary –  The Hawks broke the 100-point barrier for the first time since the 1989-90 season against UMBC in the opening round of the Hawk Classic.  Saint Joe’s won the Classic behind 25 points by Tournament MVP Ciara Andrews in the final against Central Michigan.  SJU opened conference play falling to reigning Atlantic 10 Champion George Washington.  The Hawks shot just 25.6% in the game vs. the Colonials.

Next Game – 1/6/2016 at Massachusetts

TEMPLE 8 – 4   Overall, 2 – 0 AAC, 2 – 1 Big Five

Results – Won 82 – 58 vs. Memphis at McGonigle Hall, Won 75 – 66 at Houston

Summary – The Owls got off to a 2 – 0 record in the American Athletic Conference beating the Tigers of Memphis at home, then topped the Cougars of Houston on the road.  Alliya Butts had back to back 20 point games.  Against Memphis Donnaizha Fountain had a career-best 16 points.  Feyonda Fitzgerald  scored 23 at Houston.  The Cherry and White are playing a small lineup, but it is effective offensively as they are averaging over 76 points in their last two games, and scored in double digits on each quarter last week.  Temple is on a 5 game winning streak.

Next Game – 1/5/2016 at SMU

VILLANOVA  8 – 5 Overall, 2 – 1 Big East, 2 – 1 Big Five

Results – Won 75 – 45 at Butler, Lost 74 – 67 (OT) at Xavier, Won 67 – 39 vs. Providence at The Pavilion

Summary –  A busy Big East start for the Wildcats as they played in 2 conference games, 2 on the road.  After defeating Butler, Villanova came back to tie Xavier at the buzzer.  However, the Cats lost in overtime.  Nova returned home and downed Providence.  Megan Quinn posted a double-double in the Xavier and Providence games.  She has 4 this season.  Adrianna Hahn scored 25 points at Xavier, a career-mark for the freshman.  Caroline Coyer has 21 points at Butler, her fourth 20-point performance this year and the 13th of her career.

Next Game – 1/5/2016 vs. Creighton at The Pavilion

DREXEL 5 – 7 Overall, 1 – 0 CAA

Results – Lost  83 – 62 at Syracuse, Won 66 – 54 vs. The College of Charleston at the DAC

Summary –  It was a big week for Rachel Pearson who had consecutive 20-point plus performances for the first time in her career.  She had 22 against Syracuse, and then followed with a career-high 28 points in the conference opener vs. The C of C.  In that game Pearson tied the program record with 8 made three-point field goals. She attempted 17 which set a program record.  Meghan Creighton handed out 13 assists in the two games.

Next Game – 1/8/2016 vs. Northeastern at The DAC