Women's Basketball | March 1, 2019

PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle women's basketball team (5-24, 2-13 A-10) will host George Mason (16-12, 8-7 A-10) on Saturday for the final regular season game. Game time is 2 p.m. with the contest being streamed on ESPN+. Prior to the game, the Explorers will recognize Jeryn Reese and Amber Wilks for Senior Day.

SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:

• La Salle is fresh off a 52-45 win over St. Bonaventure this past Wednesday. In a complete defensive effort, the Explorers allowed a season low 45 points to the Bonnies, holding them to just 26.7% from the floor. La Salle corralled 61 rebounds in the game to tie the program single game record. The effort included season bests of 41 defensive boards and a +14 margin.
• Over the past six games, the Explorers have the best defensive field goal percentage in the league. La Salle has held opponents to just 33.0% from the floor, which is 3.5% better than the next best team. During that spurt, the Explorers are also holding opponents to 27.8% from long range for fifth best in the A-10.
• Junior Shalina Miller tied the single season block record against SBU after deflecting her 55^th shot of the season. Miller ties Linda French '87 whose 33-year-old record was set during the 1985-86 season. The Philadelphia, Pa. native is currently fourth in program history in blocks with 104 and is second in the conference in blocks 55 and third in blocks per game (1.9). Her 55 deflections also have Miller ranked 34th in the nation.
• Over the last 12 games, the Explorers are shooting 38.8% from the field, which is better than the season average of 34.0%. Given the increase in shooting percentage, La Salle is also scoring 58.0 points per outing over that span, which is 3.4 points better than the season average.
• The Explorers are first in the A-10 in both steals (260) and steals per game (9.0).
• Reese is the team's active leading scorer with 8.3 points per game. Miller (7.7 ppg), sophomore Michelle Nicholls (7.6 ppg), and junior Sofilia Ngwafang (7.4 ppg), and are the next top scorers.
• On the glass, Reese (6.8 rpg) and junior Miller (6.5 rpg) are topping the team in rebounds.
• Reese has been on fire as of late. The Mansfield, Ohio native has dropped 10 or more points in seven of her last nine games, averaging 11.6 ppg over that span.
• At least one Explorer has scored a career high in points in 11 of the last 21 games.

SCOUTING GEORGE MASON:

• The Patriots are 16-12 overall and 8-7 in conference play on the season, including three straight wins as of late.
• George Mason is led in scoring by Nicole Cardano-Hilary, who averages 20.1 points per outing.
• Jacy Bolton nearly averages a double-double, scoring 9.7 points and snagging 8.8 rebounds per game.
• Collectively the squad drops 63.8 points per game, while shooting 39.9% from the floor.
• On the defensive end, the Patriots are giving up 62.0 points on average, letting opponents shoot 37.7% from the floor and 32.0% from long range.

LAST TIME THEY MET:

• The Patriots took the other season matchup between the two teams on Valentine's Day, 59-42.
• Nicholls led the team with 12 points, while Reese grabbed a game high 10 boards.
• Atlantic 10 leading scorer Cardano-Hilary dropped 17 points on 7-of-18 shooting for Mason. Bolton added 10 points and finished the double-double with a game high 10 rebounds.

THE SERIES:

• The Explorers and Patriots have a series history that dates back to 1994.
•  After the Patriots took the first game of this season, the all-time series record is knotted at 5-5.
• 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 five of the last six. The Explorers last win over the Patriots came at home in the teams' only meeting during the 2016-17 season.