La Salle University - Explorer Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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Standing: John Miller (Head Coach), Anna Marie Pagliacetti (Manager), Tracey Sneed, Maureen Buckley, Kelly Briar (Co-Captain), Linda French, Allison Hudson (Co-Captain), Suzy Springman, Aniota Plakans, Mary Coyle, Frank Nunan (Asst. Coach), Gina Tobin (Asst. Coach). Kneeling: Kelly Greenberg, Cheryl Reeve, Gail Beatty, Sheila Wall, Jennifer Snyder, Nol pictured: Kathy Hemsley (Asst, Coach), Mary Lynn Kearney (Manager), Donna Rines (Manager), Mary Morgan (Trainer). 146

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La Salle Captures First Big 5 Title By Mary Coyle Women ' s Basketball The 1986-87 Women ' s Basketball team had a very tough act to follow. Last season ' s team compiled an out- standing record of 21-9, and captured their first-ever MAAC Championship, under the guidance of head coach Bill Speedy Morris. This year ' s team found itself without the services of three graduated 1000-point scorers and coach Morris, who left to take over the men ' s head coaching job. Replacing Morris is John Miller, 39, previously head coach at Monsignor Bonner High School where his team fin- ished the 1985-86 season with a 20-8 record. He has also coached at Roman Catholic and Archbishop Ryan High Schools, and, like Morris before him, has had to make an adjustment from coaching boys ' high-school basketball to women ' s college basketball. Under Miller and the dedicated lead- ership of senior co-captains Kelly Briar and Allison Hudson, the Lady Explorers have proven they are just as good as the MAAC Championship team of the previous year. Throughout the season, La Salle played competitively with sev- eral formidable opponents. One major victory which stands out is the defeat of the Lady Hawks of St. Joe ' s for the first time in sixteen meetings. This key win enabled the Lady Explorers to cap- ture their very first Big Five Champion- ship. Former player and present assistant coach Gina Tobin described what it was like to finally beat St. Joe ' s, It was tremendous. A Big Five victory against St. Joe ' s after so many years of defeats was special. It ' s great to still be in- volved with La Salle women ' s basket- ball, even though I ' m not out on the floor scoring points. Another highlight of the season was the prestigious La Salle Invitational Christmas Tournament. A field of eight tough teams battled it out on the hard- wood of Hayman Hall, including nation- ally-ranked James Madison University. La Salle faced JMU in the final and lost in a very close, hard-fought game. La Salle ' s own Kelly Briar had a fantastic tournament, and was named to the All-Tournament Team. Briar said of her accomplishment, I played as hard as I could to win, and I was just happy that others noticed. Senior co-captain Allison Hudson added more excitement to the season by scoring her career 1000th point against Fordham on January 23 at the Palestra. She is only the seventh player in Lady Explorer history to reach this mi- lestone. I was extremely happy to have finally scored my 1000th point. Al- though I ' ll be credited with the accom- plishment, it was really a team effort. I could not have done it without my teammates. The outstanding play of the Lady Ex- plorers can be attributed to much hard work and a great deal of talent in all areas. Other players who rounded out this fine team include guards Cheryl Reeve, Kelly Greenberg, and Sheila Wall. In the forward position, Linda French and Tracy Sneed are both key contributers. The intense desire and dedication of all the members of the La Salle Wom- en ' s Basketball Family have, and will continue, to make them a great suc- cess. Coach John Miller takes time out to review the strategy. Sheila Wall directs the team into position. Tracey Sneed and Linda French take the jump during a scrimmage game. 145

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Co-Captain Kelly Briar fights for the rebound. La Salle Opp. 60 Delaware 56 90 Arkansas St. 71 68 Wichita St. (OT) 70 64 Villanova 78 56 Temple 47 79 East Carolina 72 58 St. Joseph ' s 54 76 Youngstown St. 60 65 Connecticut 60 52 James Madison 62 77 Miami, Ohio 65 69 Richmond 60 71 Manhattan 55 83 Pennsylvania 45 74 Holy Cross 84 60 Fairfield 63 65 St. Peter ' s 57 65 Fordham 54 72 lona 81 95 lona 68 66 Manhattan 63 91 Holy Cross 81 50 Fairfield 49 80 St. Peter ' s 58 72 Fordham 59 65 Fairleigh Dickinson 46 51 Manhattan 53