Philly Women’s College Basketball – Week in Review and Awards, Games of January 16 – 22, 2018

PHILLY WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL WEEK IN REVIEW

Penn and Temple to Play for a Share of the Big Five Title with Villanova

Drexel Sweeps Weekend Road Weekend In CAA

Adrianna Hahn Reached 1,000 Career-Point Plateau

PhillyCollegeSports.com Player of the Week

Eleah Parker, Penn – Eleah Parker set a new career-mark in points for the second time in as many games  scoring 25 points in Penn’s win at Villanova.  She scored 18 of her points in the second half.  The freshman added 9 rebounds in the win on the Main Line.

Honor Roll

Kelsi Lidge, Bailey Greenberg – Drexel

Adreana Miller – La Salle

Anna Ross, Michelle Nwokedi – Penn

Amanda Fioravanti, Alyssa Monaghan – Saint Joseph’s

Tanaya Atkinson, Mia Davis – Temple

Alex Louin, Mary Gedaka, 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 January 16 – 22, 2018

DREXEL 14 – 5 Overall, 6 – 1 CAA

Results – Won 69 – 58 at Northeastern, Won 58 – 47 at Hofstra

Summary –  The Dragons won their road weekend in the CAA and extended their winning streak to four games and eight of the last nine.  Drexel went into the Northeastern game ranked second in the CAA in made three-pointers.  Northeastern was ranked number one in the conference.  For the game the Dragons had 7 triples to 6 for the Huskies.  Drexel took control in the 4^th quarter taking a lead of 14 points.  The Dragons continued their momentum in New York against the Pride going out to a 15 – 3 lead after one quarter.  They used the defense to hold off a late push by Hofstra.  Kelsi Lidge scored 21 points and had 9 rebounds and 5 assists at Northeastern.  Bailey Greenberg netted 15 points and had 8 boards against Hofstra.  Drexel has sole possession of second place in the CAA, one game behind league leading James Madison.

Next Game – 1/26/18 vs. Elon at the DAC

LA SALLE 6 – 13 Overall, 1 – 5 Atlantic 10, 1 – 2 Big Five

Results – Lost 78 – 50 at Duquesne, Lost 72 – 63 at Rhode Island

Summary – The Explorers were swept in their road trip this past week.  The team fell behind quickly at Duquesne trailing 20 – 9 after one quarter.  For the game the Dukes hit 51.7% from the floor while the Blue and Gold made 36%.  La Salle was better at Rhode Island and had a lead at intermission, but were victimized by a 21 – 13 third quarter run by the Rams.  Turnovers continue to be a problem for the Explorers who had 40 over the two-game span.  Adreana Miller put in 39 points over the week.

Next Game – 1/25/18 at VCU

PENN – 9 – 5 Overall, 2 – 1 Ivy League, 2 – 1 Big Five

Results – Won 79 – 77 at Villanova

Summary –  The University of Pennsylvania will be playing for a share of the Big Five championship against Temple.  The winner will share the city title with Villanova.  Penn ended a 16-game losing streak to Nova winning a basket by Anna Ross with 1 second to play which broke a tie at 77.  Alex Louin hit a long three-pointer with 5 seconds left which deadlocked the game.  Ross had 11 points and 8 assists along with a turnover.  Eleah Parker scored a career-high 25 points, 18 in the second half.  It was the second time she set a career-mark in two games.  Parker also grabbed 9 rebounds.  Michelle Nwokedi added 17 points and 8 rebounds.  Lauren Whitlatch had 16 points.  In the game the Red and Blue committed a season-low 6 turnovers.  The Quakers have won 7 of their last 8 games.

Next Game – 1/24/18 at Temple

SAINT JOSEPH’S  9 – 9 Overall, 4 – 2 Atlantic 10, 0 – 3 Big Five

Results – Lost 96 – 73 at Saint Louis

Summary – The Hawks had one game this week and fell on the road.  Saint Joe’s fell behind early, but made a charge getting to within four-points in the second quarter.  The Billikens answered with a 19 – 6 run that went into the third quarter to take control.  Amanda Fioravanti led SJU with 18 points and had 6 rebounds.  Adashia Franklyn took down 9 boards along with scoring 13 points.  Alyssa Monaghan scored 13 points and 7 assists.  The Hawks are in a tie for fourth place in the Atlantic 10 with George Mason and Saint Louis.  The Hawks will fly to Duquesne who is 6 – 0 in the A10, a half-game behind league leading Dayton.

Next Game – 1/24/18 vs. Duquesne

TEMPLE 9 – 9 Overall, 1 – 5 American, 2 – 1 Big Five

Results – Lost 99 – 75 vs. Houston, Lost 113 – 57 vs. #1 Connecticut both at McGonigle Hall

Summary – It was a tough week for the Owls who dropped home games to the Houston Cougars and the top-ranked UConn Huskies.  Houston shot the ball well from distance making 57.7% from the three-point line and 52.9% overall.  Temple made nearly 50% of their shots.  When #1 Connecticut visited there was a buzz in sold out McGonigle Hall.  The Owls competed, but fell victim giving up 56 first half points.  Freshman Mia Davis put in 37 points over the week while Tanaya Atkinson scored 35.  Since the beginning of 2018 the Cherry and White have lost 4 of 5 games.  When Penn visits on Wednesday, the winner gets to share the Big Five crown with Villanova.

Next Game – 1/24/18 vs. Penn at McGonigle Hall

VILLANOVA  15 – 5, 5 – 4 Big East, 3 – 1 Big Five

Results – Lost 79 – 77 vs. Penn, Won 84 – 58 vs. DePaul, Lost 67 – 57 vs. Marquette all at the Jake Nevin Field House

Summary –  The Wildcats suffered a loss to Big Five rival Penn on a shot with 1 second to play.  The loss cost Villanova a chance to win the city title outright.  Now, Nova will share the championship.  The question is with who?  Returning to Big East games, the Wildcats put the game in the rearview mirror running past the Blue Demons of DePaul early taking a 19 – 5 lead after the first quarter.  The Cats could not continue the momentum dropping the third game of the home stand to the Golden Eagles of Marquette. Villanova had 13 turnovers compared to 10 for Marquette, yet their edge in points off turnovers was 21 – 8 for the Golden Eagles.  Adrianna Hahn scored 17 points against DePaul and scored the 1,000^th point of her career.  Alex Louin continues to fill the stat sheet.  She made 7 of 8 from the floor against DePaul scoring 17 points while pulling down 9 rebounds and handing out 2 assists.  She posted 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists in the Penn game.  Louin had 11 points and 3 rebounds in the third game of the busy week for Villanova.  Mary Gedaka posted double-figures in all three games netting 44 points and 19 rebounds.  The Wildcats have played half of their conference schedule.  They will travel to Xavier for the next contest.  It will be all Big East from here to the end.  Villanova is tied for third place in conference along with Butler, St. John’s, and Creighton.  Marquette and DePaul stand first and second in the league.

Next Game – 1/26/18 at Xavier