Women's Basketball | November 19, 2021

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The La Salle women's basketball team looks to bounce back from a close loss at Drexel on Wednesday night as it prepares to host Niagara at home in Tom Gola Arena on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. The Explorers will celebrate all those who served and continue to serve with Military Appreciation Day.

SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:

• La Salle will take on Niagara for the ninth time overall on Saturday afternoon. It will be the sixth time that the Purple Eagles have made the trip to Philadelphia and the first times the two teams have met since 1996.
• La Salle returns to the court following a close loss to Drexel on Wednesday evening. After trailing through the first three quarters of play, the Explorers managed to take a three-point lead over the Dragons in the final frame. A last-minute push from Drexel put the Dragons on top, 71-65.
• Senior Kayla Spruill had her third-straight double-double of the season earning 13 points and pulling down 10 boards. The senior went 3-of-7 from beyond, tying her season-high 3-point field goal total.
• Sophomore Jaye Haynes notched her third-straight double-digit scoring effort shooting 5-of-11 from the field and 2-of-3 from the line for 12 points.
• Senior Molly Masciantonio came up big for the Explorers in the second quarter of the game securing nine of La Salle's 25 points scored in the frame. She ended the half with a 3-pointer as the clock struck 0:00. She also led the team with six assists, tying her season-high for the third time.
• The Explorers won the turnover battle with a +6 margin (12-18) which led to 19 points.
• The squad is shooting 32.7% from the floor, 28.6% from the long range and 75.6% from the line.
• Masciantonio is currently tied for 27th in the nation in assists per game averaging 6.0 and is 40th in total assists with 18 in three games.
• Spruill is currently tied for first in the nation in double-doubles with three in the last three contests. She is tied for sixth in offensive rebounds per game (5.3) and 19th in defensive rebounds per game (8.3). Overall, the senior ranks fifth in rebounds per game with 13.7 and is tied for 11th in rebounds total with 41. Spruill currently leads the rebounding effort for the Explorers helping La Salle to out-rebound two of its last three opponents.
• La Salle has made quite the effort from the 3-point range this season, ranking seventh in the country in 3-point field goal attempts with 105 in three games. The Explorers are tied for 29th nationally for 3-pointers made with 30.

 
SCOUTING THE PURPLE EAGLES:

• Niagara (2-2) enters the game following a 74-65 victory against Colgate at home on Wednesday, Nov. 17.
• Aaliyah Parker led NU with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Angel Parker, Sydney Faulco and Lore Porter each added 11 points in the win. The double-double effort from Aaliyah Parker marked her second-straight double-double of the season.
• Aaliyah Parker was named MAAC Rookie of the Week on Monday following a week where she averaged 13 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.3 steals, and 24.2 minutes in Niagara's first three games.
• As a team, Niagara shot 37.1 percent from the field, including 33.3 percent from three. The Purple Eagles finished with a 66.7 percent mark from the charity stripe. 
• The Purple Eagles out-rebounded Colgate, 47-30, resulting in 18 second-chance points.
• Niagara made a season-high 21 free throws against Colgate while also setting season-highs in free throw attempts (31) and rebounds (47).
• Currently, the Purple Eagles are second in the MAAC with 12.0 steals per game.

SERIES HISTORY:

• The Explorers are a perfect 8-0 in the series that dates back to 1987.
• La Salle and Niagara have not faced off against one another in 25 years. The teams last met up in Philadelphia on December 28, 1996.
• The last meeting marked the largest margin of victory for the Explorers as they topped the Purple Eagles by 39 points, 78-39. That meeting also marked the last at home for La Salle.