Women's Basketball | January 25, 2022
OLEAN, N.Y. – After a short visit back to Philadelphia to defeat Richmond at home in Tom Gola Arena on Sunday, the La Salle women's basketball team is back on the road to take on St. Bonaventure on Wednesday, Jan. 26 at 5 p.m.
SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:
- La Salle (11-6, 4-1 A10) enters the contest following a 20-point victory over Richmond on Sunday. The Explorers took an early lead that it wouldn't relinquish complete with a 13-point performance by Claire Jacobs in the third quarter. Her first of three-straight 3-point buckets in the frame pushed her to 1,000 career points making her just the 27th Explorer in program history to reach the milestone and tied for the third fastest to do it.
- The Explorers recorded its highest 3-point field goal percentage of the season in the game shooting 12-of-27, 44.4%, from deep.
- Claire Jacobs led the Explorers with 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting and 3-of-4 from the long range to end the night. She is currently shooting 37.5% from deep, third best on the squad. The junior has recorded at least three 3-pointers in seven games this season and has reached 10+ points in nine contests.
- Kayla Spruill continues to lead the offensive effort for La Salle averaging 14.9 points per game. She is the team's leading rebounder pulling down an average of 8.1 boards. Spruill ranks first in the lead in free throw percentage (.915) and second in 3-point field goal percentage (.455).
- Gabby Crawford continues to be a consistent scorer for La Salle averaging 13.7 points per game. She is recording a second-best 5.0 rebounds per game. The junior has totaled 10+ points in five of her six games for the Explorers this season.
- La Salle's 4-1 start in conference play marks the first time since the 2013-14 season when the Explorers began A-10 play with a 4-0 stretch.
- The Explorers continue to lead the conference in free throw percentage shooting 79.5% from the line. The squad is second in the league for turnover margin (3.13).
SCOUTING THE BONNIES:
- St. Bonaventure (9-8, 1-5 A10) enters the contest following its first Atlantic 10 win on Sunday over George Mason. Asianae Johnson led the Bonnies with 21 points and seven rebounds while I'yanna Lops recorded her second double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 board.
- The Bonnies shot 75.0% (6-of-8) from the field and 82.0% (14-of-17) from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter to close out the 81-74 victory over George Mason.
- Johnson leads the Bonnies' scoring efforts this season averaging 17.1 points per game, good for fifth in the league. She has had a recent run of four-straight 20+ point outings. The guard is currently hitting 44.5% of all her shots and ranks second in free throw percentage (.759).
- Lops has made program history this season for her defensive efforts at the rim. Her 30 blocks are tied for eighth all-time for a single season. She enters the contest only needing a single block to move into seventh place. Lops ranks fourth in the A-10 wit 40 blocks averaging 1.8 per game, also good for fourth in the league.
- St. Bonaventure rank second in the conference in blocks (72) and blocks per game (4.2).
SERIES HISTORY:
- La Salle holds the advantage, 18-16, in the all-time series against St. Bonaventure. The Bonnies have seen the most success on their home court coming out victorious 10 times and dropping just six contests at home to the Explorers.
- The Explorers held the lead through the majority of play with the final push coming in the fourth quarter when La Salle scored 10 of the first 19 points in the first five minutes.
- Claire Jacobs led for the Explorers with a team high 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting including a perfect 4-of-4 from deep and 4-of-4 at the line.
- Kayla Spruill notched 17 points not missing a field goal or free throw.
