After defeating Niagara University, 83-65, on Monday, the Binghamton University women’s basketball team (3-4) will look to continue their winning ways in Philadelphia tomorrow against La Salle University.
Edwin Lin/Staff Photographer
La Salle (4-4) should prove to be a good measuring stick for the Bearcats. Picked 13th in the 14-team Atlantic 10 Conference, the Explorers opened up the season by upsetting Big East member Villanova University, who will come to the Events Center on Dec. 10. But La Salle has been streaky since the opening night win, going 3-4 with a 71-70 loss in their last game to Morgan State on Dec. 3.
La Salle’s greatest strength may be its deep lineup, which features nine players seeing over 10 minutes of playing time per game.
They are led by junior forward Morgan Robertson, who is averaging over 12 points and 10 rebounds per game. Other than Robertson, La Salle likes to set up on the perimeter, where they have had success, connecting on 35 percent of the whopping 142 3-pointers they have taken in only eight games. La Salle also features a name that may be familiar to America East fans: senior guard Margaret Elderton, who suited up for Maine in 2005 and 2006. Elderton is one of La Salle’s top 3-point shooters, averaging 45 percent for the season.
Binghamton (3-4) seems to be getting acclimated to the more up-tempo system of first-year head coach Nicole Scholl. After struggling to the tune of 38 percent shooting the first five games of the season, the Bearcats shot 45 percent in a losing effort to Canisius College on Nov. 29, followed by a 50 percent clinic in the victory over Niagara on Dec. 1, where the Bearcats connected eight times from beyond the arc for a 57 percent clip.
The Bearcats have had only one starting lineup this season, led by senior forward Laura Franceski and junior guards Erica Carter and Muffy Sadler. Franceski leads the team with 23 blocks and is currently on pace to break the Binghamton school record of 95 blocks, set back in 1990 by Alicia Brennan, back when Binghamton was still a Division III school. Carter has stepped up her scoring output, averaging 17 points per game over the last two games, while Sadler has connected on 64 percent of her 3-point attempts for the season.
The starting lineup is rounded out by freshman guard Andrea Holmes and freshman forward Viive Rebane. Holmes has performed well as the starting point guard, leading the team in assists, while Rebane is the team’s leading shooter at 53 percent. Junior forward Darryll Peterson has provided a major spark for the Bearcats off the bench. Averaging starter’s minutes, Peterson brings defensive intensity, as evidenced by her team-leading seven rebounds per game. Sophomore Jackie Ward is the first guard off the bench, and while she provides depth at any of the guard spots, she is primarily a point guard.
Key Matchups:
Laura Franceski vs. Morgan Robertson
Robertson is La Salle’s only true front court threat at this time, and Franceski is a solid defender. If Franceski can repeat Monday’s six-block performance against Niagara and contain Robertson, La Salle will be forced to shoot more 3-point shots than they want to.
Binghamton Perimeter Defense vs. La Salle 3-Point Shooting
Carter, Holmes and Sadler will need to bring their “A” defensive game against La Salle’s starting guards, who take over 50 percent of their shots beyond the arc. If the La Salle guards struggle early, as mentioned before, their depth in the front court is limited, which could make it a long day for the Explorers.
The Bearcats look to break their 0-2 record against Atlantic 10 teams with a win over the Explorers tomorrow at 1 p.m.