Women's Basketball | January 15, 2016

PHILADELPHIA – La Salle returns to Philadelphia for back-to-back home games beginning with a Saturday matchup against Rhode Island in Tom Gola Arena. Tipoff against the Rams is set for 1 p.m.
 
Rhode Island Rams (7-9, 1-3 A-10) at La Salle Explorers (3-13, 0-4 A-10)
Saturday, January 16 | 1 PM | Tom Gola Arena 
Live Stats | Video | Audio | Live Tweets @ExplorerGameDay

All-Time Series
The Explorers hold a distinct 25-4 advantage in the all-time series, which dates back to 1985. 
 
Scouting the Explorers
-Sophomore Amy Griffin leads the A-10 in scoring (17.7 ppg) and has scored in double figures in all eight games since returning from injury against North Texas (12/16). Griffin had 14 of her 16 points against GW in the 4th quarter. 

-Jasmine Alston needs just five steals to catch Carlene Hightower ('08) for 10th on the all-time career list. The junior has 161 thefts on her career, and is leading the A-10 with 2.4 steals per game this season. 

-Alston is third in the Atlantic 10 in assists this season with 5.6 per game. 

-Micahya Owens is 42-for-51 from the foul line this season, good for fourth in the conference in free throw percentage (82.4), and is a perfect 10-for-10 since conference play began January 2. The junior has 1,034 career points, which is eight shy of tying Majorie Rhoads ('01) for 22nd on the all-time scoring list (1,042 points).

-The Explorers are third in the A-10 with 4.8 blocked shots per game in conference play. Sophomore Ashanti Freeland leads La Salle with 22 blocks on the year.

Scouting the Rams
-Rhode Island is looking to rebound from a 79-70 loss to Duquesne at home on Wednesay. A 57-50 victory at Richmond on Saturday is Rhody's only win since entering A-10 play.  

- Samantha Tabakman is coming off a career-high 30 point output against Duquesne on Wednesday, and is averaging 14.0 points per game this season. The senior leads the Atlantic 10 and is 10th in the country in shooting percentage at 59.6 %.

-Sophomore Charise Wilson leads URI's scoring attack, posting 15.3 points per game to go with 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. 

-Tayra Melendez has 921 career points and needs 79 more to become the 20th 1,000-point scorer in school history. The senior is averaging 5.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game this season. 

-The Rams have held their opponent to less than 40.0 percent shooting in 14 of its 16 games this season.

Up Next
La Salle hosts the Penn Quakers in Tom Gola Arena on Monday evening in a Big 5 rivalry game. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.