Women's Basketball | January 7, 2020

PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle women's basketball team (6-8, 0-1 A-10) will conclude its four game homestand on Wednesday as it welcomes Saint Louis (8-6, 0-1 A-10) to the confines of Tom Gola Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. with the game streaming on ESPN+.
 
SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:

• La Salle has dropped its last seven games, dating back to a loss against Navy on Dec. 1. The Explorers opened conference play against Dayton last Saturday, falling to the number two preseason pick in the A-10 coaches' poll., 98-58. The Flyers held a 25-point lead in the first half that was cut to 12, however rallied back in the second half.
• November was pleasant for the Explorers as they had their best start in 13 seasons at 6-1. The start included three comeback victories, including two of 16+ points against Harvard and Penn State. La Salle's six wins match last season's total.
• Freshman Claire Jacobs is leading the Explorers with 11.1 points per outing this season. The Aussie is shooting 35.5% from the floor, including 36.4% from long range.
• Sophomore Kayla Spruill (8.8 ppg) and rookie Jordon Lewis (8.0 ppg) are the team's next highest scorers. They round out a trio of players averaging 8.0 ppg or better.
• Senior Shalina Miller is corralling a team high 7.9 rebounds per outing, while also leading the team in blocks (2.5) and steals (1.4) per game. Miller is second all-time in deflections and sits three behind Amy Griffin '18 for the career mark at 151. She also ranks second in the A-10 in blocks and blocks per game, while sitting 19^th in the nation in both categories.
• Junior Kate Hill sits atop the conference ranks in assist to turnover ratio and 20^th nationally at 2.55. Hill has started four of the last five games.
• La Salle is averaging 61.6 ppg and allowing 66.9.

SCOUTING THE BILLIKENS:

• Saint Louis enters play at 8-6 overall and 0-1 in the Atlantic 10 after a 65-58 loss to Davidson to open league play. The Billiken are led by eighth year head coach Lisa Stone.
• Ciaja Harbison is leading the squad with 15.0 points per outing. The reigning Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year is shooting 36.7% from the floor and 34.0% from beyond the arc.
• Kendra Wilken is the second leading scorer with 10.7 ppg. She's also second on the team with 7.7 rebounds per game. Flowers trails Miller in the A-10 rankings with 2.4 blocks per outing.
• Brooke Flowers leads the rebounding efforts with 8.1 rpg. Flowers adds 6.2 ppg.
• The Billikens are scoring 59.5 points on average and allowing opponents 57.4.

THE SERIES:

• In a rather young history, the Billikens hold a slight 8-7 advantage dating back to 2006.
• Saint Louis won last year's matchup, 69-58, in Missouri and has claimed four of the last five.
• La Salle's last victory came two seasons ago inside Tom Gola Arena, 87-76.