Women's Basketball | December 10, 2020

PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle women's basketball team (2-2) returns to Tom Gola Arena on Friday to take on the Howard Bison (1-0) at 3:30 p.m. in a rescheduled game. The game was originally set for Nov. 25, then Dec. 28, and now Friday, Dec. 11. It will stream nationally on ESPN+ and internationally through the Atlantic 10.
 
SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:

• La Salle enters play at 2-2 overall after falling to Villanova, 78-52, on Wednesday.
• After leading the Blue & Gold against the Wildcats with 16 points and seven rebounds, sophomore Claire Jacobs is scoring a team high 13.7 ppg and adds 5.0 rpg. The Perth, Australia native is connecting on 45.2% of her shots this season, including 33.3% from long range, and 88.9% from the line. Jacobs has scored 10 or more points in 18 of her last 22 games, including 13 of her last 14.
• Junior Kayla Spruill is second on the team with 10.5 points per outing and a team high 6.5 boards on average. She's hitting 44.1% of her attempts and 50% from deep.
• Junior Molly Masciantonio rounds out La Salle's double-digit scorers with 10.3 ppg. The DII transfer is shooting 40% from the floor and 33.3% from long range. She's dropped 10+ in three her first four DI games.
• Collectively, the Explorers are draining 34.9% of their shots this season with 30% from three-point land and 77.6% from the stripe.
• La Salle's opponents are outrebounding the Blue & Gold 43.3-37.5 on average this season.

SCOUTING THE BISON:

• Howard's lone game this season came back on November 30 when it defeated Mount St. Mary's, 87-83.
• In the game, five Bison scored in double figures with Kayla Thornton leading the way with 26 points on 6-of-15 shooting, 5-of-10 from long range, and a perfect 9-of-9 from the line.
• Anzhane' Hutton (18), Brooklynn Fort-Davis (13), Iyanna Warren (10), and Kaiya Creek (10) round out the top scorers.
• Overall, the Bison shot 51.7% from the field, 33.3% from three-point range, and 71.4% from the free throw line.
• The squad was a force on the blocks with 12 deflections against the Mount.
• Head coach Ty Grace is in her sixth year at the helm of the program.

SERIES HISTORY:

• Friday's matchup will be the 10^th meeting all-time between the two programs with La Salle leading, 7-2.
• The Explorers defeated Howard in six of the last seven meetings, including last year's season opener, 78-62. In the game C. Jacobs dropped 20 points in her rookie debut with senior Deja King and Spruill adding 12 points apiece.