Women's Basketball | February 21, 2020
KINGSTON, R.I. – The La Salle women's basketball team (11-15, 5-8 A-10) is set up for a critical league game Saturday afternoon against Rhode Island (12-12, 6-7 A-10). Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m. with the game airing on ESPN+.
Rhody is currently one game ahead of the Explorers in league standings. With a win, La Salle would hold the tie breaker over the Rams for playoff seeding.
SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:
- La Salle has won two of its last three games after falling to preseason front runner, VCU, this past Wednesday. The Explorers led for most of the first half before the Rams came back in the second. Rookie Claire Jacobs led the team with 19 points, while sophomore Kayla Spruill added 17 and 12 boards.
- Freshman Claire Jacobs is the reigning Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week after averaging 17 points and five rebounds per game in the Explorers' two wins. The Perth, Australia native leads the team in scoring with 13.7 ppg on 38.0% shooting. She's recorded double figure scoring totals in her last seven games and a total of 17 games this season.
- Sophomore Kayla Spruill is second on the squad in scoring (10.5) and rebounding (6.0). The Baltimore, Md. native has registered 10 or more points in 16 games this season, including her last four and 12 of the last 14.
- Freshmen Jordon Lewis (7.5) and Amy Jacobs (6.9) round out the top four scorers for the Blue & Gold. The quartet are accounting for 62.0% of the team's offense. Sophomores and freshman make up 68.3% of the Explorers' points this season.
- Senior Shalina Miller paces La Salle in rebounds (7.2) and blocks (2.6). Miller reset the program's single season record blocks record after her six deflections against VCU. The Philadelphia, Pa. native became the all-time deflector earlier this season.
- Junior Kate Hill is one of the best ball handlers in the nation. Not only does she pace the Atlantic 10 in assist to turnover ratio, but is ninth in the nation at 2.80. She's also second in the league with 112 assists and 4.5 per game behind Rhody's Davida Dale.
- La Salle is scoring 61.6 ppg and allows its opponents 66.3.
SCOUTING THE RAMS:
- Rhode Island is led by first-year head coach Tammi Reiss. Under Reiss, the Rams are 10-2 at home.
- Rhody has four players averaging double figure point totals, led by Nicole Jorgensen (15.6) and Davida Dale (13.1). Marta Vargas (11.6) and Erin Jones (11.1) round out the crew.
- Jorgensen and Dale are one and two in rebounds with 8.6 and 7.7 rpg, respectively.
- Dale leads the league in assists and assists per game.
- The Rams average 64.9 ppg and give up 62.7.
THE SERIES:
- La Salle holds the all-time record 28-7 after last year's victory in Tom Gola Arena.
- The Explorers lost their last matchup on the road, with their last win coming on Feb. 1, 2017.
- La Salle is 11-3 all-time on the road against Rhody.
