Women's Basketball | December 29, 2019
PHILADELPHIA – On Monday, the La Salle women's basketball team (6-6, 0-2 Big 5) will take on crosstown rival Temple (6-6, 1-1 Big 5) for the Explorers' second-straight Big 5 game. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Tom Gola Arena with the game streaming on ESPN+.
SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:
- After its best start in 13 years, La Salle has dropped its last five games to even its record at 6-6 with losses to Navy, Penn, Rider, Drexel, and Villanova. The team's six wins match its total from a season ago.
- Freshmen and sophomores are accounting for 63.9% of the Explorers' points. Of the 63.9%, 55.4% come from the team's top four scorers - freshman Claire Jacobs, sophomore Kayla Spruill, freshman Jordon Lewis, and freshman Amy Jacobs.
- Rookie Claire Jacobs is pacing the team with 11.0 points per game after her most recent performance against Villanova. The freshman dropped a career best 25 points in that game and has scored 12+ points in six games this season.
- Sophomore Kayla Spruill and freshman Jordon Lewis are the team's next highest scorers. Spruill is dropping 8.3 ppg, while Lewis adds 7.9 ppg.
- Senior Shalina Miller leading the Explorers in rebounding (7.8 rpg) and blocking (2.3 bpg).
SCOUTING THE OWLS:
- Temple is led by 12th-year head coach Tonya Cardoza and enter play 6-6 overall after dropping its most recent game against Florida Gulf Coast.
- The Owls are scoring 69.3 points per outing and allowing opponents 70.5.
- A trio of Owls account for double-digit scoring totals on average and are led by junior Mia Davis at 19.0 ppg. Davis is averaging a double-double per game as she leads the team with 10.1 rebounds per game.
- Redshirt-sophomore Ashley Jones is the next leading scorer with 17.2 ppg in her first season on the floor with the Cherry & White after sitting out last year due to NCAA transfer rules.
- Sophomore Marissa Mackins round out the trio with 11.9 points on average.
THE SERIES:
- La Salle and Temple first met back in 1973 and have squared off 49 times.
- The Owls hold the advantage over the Blue & Gold 28-21 after last season's win inside McGonigle Hall.
- La Salle's last win came during the 2012-13 season down on North Broad Street.
- The last victory at home came on Feb. 2, 1999.
