Women's Basketball | February 13, 2019

PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle women's basketball team (4-21, 1-10 A-10) will travel to George Mason (12-11, 4-6 A-10) for a Valentine's Day game on Thursday. The matchup will be the first of the season series against the Patriots. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. with the game airing on ESPN+.
 
SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:

• After picking up a win against Rhode Island, the Explorers went to Saint Louis and fell to the Billikens, 69-58. La Salle pulled within a few points on multiple occasions, but couldn't overtake the home team. In the game, senior Jeryn Reese led the squad with 17 points and nine rebounds.
• Over the last nine games, the Explorers are shooting 41.8% from the field and 33.8% from long range. Both are far better than the season averages of 34.1% FG and 25.4% 3FG. Given the increase in shooting percentage, La Salle is also scoring 60.9 points per outing over that span, which is 5.9 points better than the season average.
• At least one Explorer has scored a career high in points in 11 of the last 17 games.
• The Explorers are first in the A-10 in both steals (270) and steals per game (9.2). The 270 steals have La Salle ranked 42nd nationally.
• Reese is the team's active leading scorer with 8.2 points per game. Junior Sofilia Ngwafang (7.8 ppg), sophomore Michelle Nicholls (7.6 ppg), and junior Shalina Miller (7.5 ppg) are the next top scorers.
• On the glass, Reese (6.3 rpg) and Miller (6.2 rpg) are topping the team in rebounds.
• Miller is fourth in program history in blocks with 93 and is currently second in the conference in blocks (44) and third in blocks per game (1.8). Her 44 deflections also have Miller ranked 36th in the nation.
• Reese has been on fire as of late. The Mansfield, Ohio native has dropped 10 or more points in four of her last five games, averaging 13.6 ppg. In A-10 play this season, the senior is averaging 10.2 points per outing.

SCOUTING THE PATRIOTS:

• George Mason comes into Thursday's game at 12-11 overall and 4-6 in the conference. The Patriots have dropped three of their last four games, with the lone win coming over George Washington.
• Arguably one of the best offenses in the league, the Patriots are third in terms of points per outing with 65.2 and are within 2.5 points of the leader. As a team, they are third in the conference hitting 40.2% from the floor.
• Nicole Cardano-Hillary is not only leading the team in scoring, but leading the Atlantic 10 with 20.9 points per game. The sophomore also leads the team with 3.3 assists per contest.
• Joining Cardano-Hillary in double figure scoring totals is Jacy Bolton. Bolton is dropping 10.1 points on average, shooting 42.9% from the field.
• On the glass, George Mason sits atop the conference in terms of offensive rebounds with 13.9 per outing and second overall with 41.1 boards per game.
• George Mason does struggle turning the ball over with 16.7 per contest and it has a -2.0 margin.

THE SERIES:

• The Explorers and Patriots have a series history that dates back to 1994.
• La Salle won the first four games, including a pair at home and a pair on the road.
• As of late, George Mason has held the upper hand, claiming four of the last five.
• The Explorers last win over the Patriots came at home in the teams' only meeting during the 2016-17 season.
• La Salle hasn't won a game on the road since 2014.