Women's Basketball | February 25, 2020

PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle women's basketball team (12-15, 6-8 A-10) continues its hopes for a home playoff game as it hosts Davidson (14-13, 7-7 A-10) on Wednesday for the program's annual Kids Day Game. Tipoff is slated for 11 a.m. from Tom Gola Arena with the game airing live on ESPN+.
 
SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:

• La Salle is fresh off of a convincing defensive win over Rhode Island, 54-42. The 42 points surrendered is a season best for the Explorers' defense, which includes the fewest second half points (15) allowed this year. Rhody's 42 points are 22.9 fewer than the Rams average this season.
• With wins over Davidson and George Mason to conclude the regular season, the Explorers would put themselves in position, with some help, to host an Atlantic 10 Championship First Round game. Because the Blue & Gold hold the tiebreaker over every team it is either tied with or above in the standings, a pair of wins to end the season would confirm the Explorers would finish between seventh and ninth.
• Since the 2011-12 season, La Salle is 9-4 in Kids Day/Education games, including 7-1 at home, 2-3 on the road, and 7-3 in its last 10.
• Wednesday's game will feature the top two scoring rookies in the league with freshmen Claire Jacobs and Davidson's Suzi-Rose Deegan. Deegan has Jacobs beat in overall points per game (15.4 to 13.6), however the Explorers leads the Wildcat in league play, 15.5 to 15.0).
• Rookie Claire Jacobs leads La Salle with 13.6 ppg on 38.1% from the field, 32.3% from long range, and 78.3% at the stripe. She's recorded double figure scoring totals in her last eight games, and 18 this season this season.
• Sophomore Kayla Spruill is second on the team in both scoring (10.3) and rebounding (5.9). The Baltimore, Md. native has registered 10 or more points in 12 of her last 15 games and 16 overall.
• Freshmen Jordon Lewis (7.6) and Amy Jacobs (6.9) round out the top four scorers for the Explorers. The quartet is accounting for 62.0% of La Salle's scoring this season. Freshmen and sophomores make up 68.2% of the offense overall.
• Senior Shalina Miller paces the Blue & Gold in rebounds (7.4) and blocks (2.8) per game. Miller reset the program's single season blocks record against VCU and broke the all-time record earlier this year. The Philadelphia, Pa. native has deflected 6+ shots in back-to-back outings and leads the league in both blocks and blocks per game.
• Junior Kate Hill has established herself as one of the best ball handlers in the country. Hill leads the Atlantic 10 in assist to turnover ratio and ranks ninth in the nation. She's also second in the league in assists (113) and assists per game (4.3).
• La Salle is scoring 61.3 ppg and allowing opponents 65.4.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS:

• Davidson is led by third-year head coach Gayle Fulks and is 14-13, 7-7 A-10.
• The Wildcats have a trio of scorers in double figures this season, led by Deegan (15.4) and Sarah Donovan (11.4). The duo also leads the team in rebounds per outing with Donovan (8.6) and Deegan (7.4).
• Collectively, the team is scoring 66.0 ppg and allowing its opposition 64.3 ppg.

THE SERIES:

• In just six meetings all-time, the record is tied up 3-3.
• Davidson has claimed the last two meetings.
• The Wildcats are 2-0 inside Tom Gola Arena.
• La Salle's wins came on the road and at a neutral site for the Atlantic 10 Championship First Round.