Women's Basketball | February 14, 2020

PHILADELPHIA – After claiming the first matchup of the season, the La Salle women's basketball team (10-14, 4-7 A-10) can sweep the season series Saturday on Hawk Hill against Saint Joseph's (8-15, 2-9 A-10). Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. with the game airing live on ESPN+.
 
SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:

• La Salle returned to the win column on Wednesday as it defeated George Washington, 61-54, in the nation's capital. In the game, the Explorers shot 42.9% from long range and hit 12 threes. The trio of freshman Claire Jacobs, sophomore Kayla Spruill, and freshman Amy Jacobs combined for 37 points.
• The victory over GW pushed La Salle to four league wins, eclipsing its total from last season. It also signified the first over the Colonials since Jan. 25, 2014.
• Rookie Claire Jacobs is continuing to impress during her freshman campaign. The Perth, Australia native leads the Explorers with 13.3 ppg, bumping her average to 15.3 ppg in league games. Jacobs is shooting 37.0% from the floor and 33.3% from three-point land. She's dropped 10+ points in her last five games and 15 total on the season. The rookie has also surpassed 15+ in 11 games and 20+ in five games.
• Sophomore Kayla Spruill is second on the team in scoring (10.3 ppg) and rebounding (5.8 ppg). The Baltimore, Md. native has registered 10 or more points in 14 games this season, including 10 of her last 12.
• Freshmen Jordon Lewis (7.8 ppg) and Amy Jacobs (7.0 ppg) round out the Explorers' top four scorers. The quartet is accounting for 61.2% of the Blue & Gold's offense this season. Underclassmen (sophomores and freshmen) are scoring 68.1% of the team's points.
• Senior Shalina Miller is three blocks away from tying the program's single season record, which she set a year ago. The Philadelphia, Pa. native paces the squad with 2.5 bpg and 7.4 rpg. She became the program's all-time leading blocker earlier this season.
• Junior Kate Hill sits atop the conference and ninth in the nation for assist to turnover ratio at 2.79. Hill is also second in the A-10 with 106 assists and 4.6 assists per game.
• La Salle is scoring 61.7 ppg and allowing opponents 66.8.

SCOUTING THE HAWKS:

• Saint Joseph's enters play at 8-15 overall and 2-9 in league play under veteran coach Cindy Griffin.
• Katie Jekot is the lone Hawk averaging double figures a game with 10.1 ppg. She's shooting 29.9% from the field and 22.6% from long range.
• Gabby Small leads SJU with 5.4 rebounds per game.
• Collectively, the Hawks are scoring 53.7 ppg and allowing their opponents 55.8.

LAST TIME THEY MET:

• La Salle defeated the Hawks earlier this season, 67-59, at Tom Gola Arena.
• Sophomore Kayla Spruill collected a double-double with a career best 24 points and 12 rebounds.
• Rookie Claire Jacobs added 21 points as the duo became the first pair to drop 20+ each since 2014.
• Senior Shalina Miller corralled 10 boards and deflected six shots.

THE SERIES:

• A history dating back to La Salle's inaugural season of 1972-73, the Explorers and Hawks have battled 61 times.
• Saint Joseph's holds the overall record at 50-11 including 19 of the last 21 matchups.
• La Salle's last win over the Hawks was earlier this season, however it's been 22 years since the Explorers were able to claim a victory at Hagan Arena.
• Of the team's 11 wins over SJU, only three have come on the road.