Lily Gebbia, Staff Writer 

PHILADELPHIA– Monday was a big day for La Salle’s men and women’s basketball teams. The women’s basketball team played early Monday morning at 11 a.m. against The University of Maine at Memorial Gymnasium in Maine. Maine upset the Explorers 65-51 with an incredible performance from their starting senior guard, Paula Gallego. Gallego had 21 points, 10 rebounds and went four for six from the three-point-line to lead her team to a blow-out win. 

La Salle men’s basketball played its first game of the season on Monday

Although the women’s team didn’t win, it was a well rounded performance for multiple starters. Notably, junior guard Ayisse Magassa had 13 points, three rebounds and went five for seven from the free throw line. The  Explorers have only faced Maine twice and lost both of those matchups by at least 10 points. This isn’t the way La Salle would have liked to start off their season, but there’s plenty of games ahead in the upcoming months for them to turn around this loss. Looking ahead, the Explorers will face The University of Delaware on Saturday, Nov. 9 at John Glaser Arena for their Home Opener, hopefully with a different result. 

On a more positive note, the La Salle men’s basketball team won their home opener in the new John Glaser Arena on Monday night, 65-52. The Explorers dominated American University with incredible performances from graduate guards Corey McKeithan and Jahlil White. McKeithan led the team in scoring with 16 points while White contributed 15 of his own.

The notable factor for the Explorers was getting to the free throw line and converting. The Explorers went nine for 12 from the line compared to only three for eight from American University. This very convincing win was a great way to start homecoming week for La Salle students, who will surely look forward to their next game. The men’s team will have less than a week until their next home game on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 3:30 p.m. against Lafayette University where the Explorers hold the historical edge, 5-3 against them. 

La Salle basketball has finally started and there’s a long list of games ahead, but the university remains optimistic that both teams have the potential to make big runs this year.