Women's Basketball | March 10, 2021

RICHMOND, Va. – The eighth seeded La Salle women's basketball team (11-13, 7-10 A-10) is set for its first game of the Atlantic 10 Championship on Thursday as it takes on #9 Duquesne (5-10, 4-7 A-10) at 11 a.m. in the Siegel Center. The Explorers and Dukes have squared off twice this season with each team claiming a victory on each other's court.
 
LA SALLE IN THE ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPIONSHIP:

• The Blue & Gold are 13-21 overall in 21 appearances.
• The Explorers eighth seed is their highest since 2017.
• This will be La Salle's first ever meeting against Duquesne in the Atlantic 10 Championship.

SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:

• La Salle is led offensively by Atlantic 10 All-Conference Third Team selection Claire Jacobs. Jacobs earned all-conference honors after leading the Blue & Gold with 16.3 ppg. She upped her shooting percentages from last season to 40.2% overall, 37.7% from deep, and a team high 82.7% from the line. The Perth, Australia native registered double digit scoring numbers in 20 games, including 15+ in 17 games. Jacobs is also second in the league with 43 steals and third in steals per game at 1.87.
• The Explorers' leading rebounder and second leading scorer is Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team honoree Kayla Spruill. Spruill tallied 14.8 ppg and 5.8 rpg. Spruill led the team in both field goal percentage (50.8%) and topped the A-10 in three-point percentage (43.5%). She toped her numbers in league play this season with a team high 17.8 ppg on 54.1% from the floor, 44.3% from long range, and 83.0% from the line. The Baltimore, Md. native dropped 10 or more points in 13 of 19 games, with 15+ in 10.
• Senior Kate Hill runs the point for the Blue & Gold and is averaging 4.5 assists per game and a 2.63 assist to turnover ratio.
• La Salle finished the regular season atop the league in assists, free throw attempts, free throws made, free throw percentage, steals, three point field goals attempted, three point field goals made, turnover margin, and turnovers forced.

SCOUTING THE DUKES:

• Duquesne is led by Laia Sole (8.3) and Megan McConnell (7.9) offensively.
• Diamond Bragg (7.1) and Precious Johnson (7.0) round out a quartet averaging at least seven points per game.
• The group is scoring 62.1 ppg and allowing opponents 67.9 ppg.

SERIES HISTORY:

• Duquesne holds the all-time record 22-19 and has claimed 13 of the last 15 contests.
• La Salle picked up its first win over the Dukes since 2014 when the Explorers topped Duquesne 68-63 earlier this season.