Women's Basketball | December 29, 2018

PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle women's basketball (3-10, 0-2 Big 5) heads down North Broad St. on Sunday as it takes on Temple (3-7, 1-1 Big 5). Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. inside McGonigle Hall with the game streaming on Owls TV.
 
SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:

• After dropping the first eight games of the season, La Salle has won three of its last five games. Most recently in the Friar Holiday Classic, the Explorers took down Northern Kentucky and Pepperdine, en route to a 2-1 record after falling to hosting Providence.
• In each of the last five contests, at least one Explorer has set a career high in points.
• Over the team's last five games, the Explorers have posted a +23 turnover margin. In part to this spurt, La Salle sits fourth in the Atlantic 10 with a +1.5 turnover margin.
• Coinciding with the team's recent success in the turnover department, the Explorers rank first in the conference in steals (129) and steals/game (9.9).
• La Salle's game against Temple will be its final non-conference bout of the season and marks the fourth straight away from Tom Gola Arena. This stretch will continue as the Explorers start conference play on the road against Dayton (1/5) and VCU (1/8) to open up the calendar year.
• After averaging over 10 points in the Friar Holiday Classic, sophomore Deja King paces the team in scoring with 8.9 points per game. Classmate Michelle Nicholls isn't far behind, dropping 8.1 points per contest.

SCOUTING THE OWLS:

• Temple enters Sunday's game at 3-7 on the season, playing a tough schedule with three ranked opponents in South Carolina, Miami, and DePaul. The Owls' wins have come over Iona, Delaware State, and Saint Joseph's.
• Statistically, the Owls are led by sophomore Mia Davis and graduate student Alliya Butts. Davis paces the squad in both points (19.8) and rebounds (9.4), averaging almost a double-double per game, while Butts adds 16.4 points and 4.2 assists.
• Despite a 3-7 record, Temple is only falling to opponents by an average of 4.1 points per game. The Cherry and White shoot 38.4% from the field, allowing opponents to shoot 41.7%.

THE SERIES:

• Temple holds the all-time series record, 27-21. A history that dates back to 1973, the Owls and Explorers have battled in Big 5 play since the 1979-80 season.
• Temple has won five straight games, with the last La Salle win coming in McGonigle Hall in January 2013.