Women's Basketball | January 29, 2022

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The La Salle women's basketball team finishes up its three-game road stretch at Duquesne on Sunday, Jan. 30 at 2 p.m.
 
SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:

• La Salle (11-7, 4-2 A10) enters the contest following close-call loss at St. Bonaventure on Wednesday, Jan. 26. The Explorers found themselves in early foul trouble allowing the Bonnies to capitalize on nine points from the line at the end of the first frame. The Explorers pulled ahead by as many as six in the fourth quarter, but the Bonnies sealed the deal with a 10-0 run to end the game and take the 61-57 victory.
• The Explorers shot just 17.9% from the three-point range marking its lowest of the season and just the fourth time La Salle's opponent has out-shot it from the long range this season.
• Kayla Spruill led the offensive effort yet again for La Salle recording 22 points on the night. The senior averages a team-high 15.3 points per game and leads the rebounding effort pulling down an average of 7.8 boards per game. Spruill has reached double-digits in 13 games this season and has recorded 20+ in five. She ranks ninth in the A-10 in scoring and sixth in rebounding. Spruill continues to lead the conference in free throw percentage shooting 90.2% from the line.
• Gabby Crawford averages 12.9 points per game, second-highest for the Explorers. She pulled down a team-high 10 boards in the game against St. Bonaventure.
• Molly Masciantonio recorded 11 points against the Bonnies. She leads La Salle in assists (83), ranking fourth in the league, and steals (39), good for fourth in the Atlantic 10. The senior ranks second in assist/turnover ratio at 2.5.
• The Explorers continue to lead the conference in free throw percentage shooting 77.7% from the line. The squad is second in the league for turnover margin (2.94).

SCOUTING THE DUKES:

• Duquesne (8-11, 3-4 A10) enters the contest following a 67-55 victory over George Mason on Wednesday night.
• A 23-4 run between the third and fourth quarters propelled the Dukes' to victory over the Patriots marking Duquesne's second-straight win and first at home since defeating the Bonnies on Jan. 8.
• The Dukes were led by four players in double figures. Tess Myers recorded a team-high 15 points and knocked down four of her last six attempts from the long range to help Duquesne pull away with win.
• Laia Sole finished the game with 14 points while both Fatou Pouye and Precious Johnson finished with 12 apiece.
• Megan McConnell ended the night with eight points and a team-high nine rebounds, seven assists and four steals. McConnell leads the overall rebounding and steal effort for Duquesne averaging 6.1 boards per game and stealing the ball a total of 46 times in 19 games.
• The Dukes recorded a season-low six turnovers.
• Pouye and Myers led the scoring effort for Duquesne this season averaging 12.9 and 12.5 points per game, respectively. 

SERIES HISTORY:

• The two squads met three times during the 2020-21 season. The Explorers ended the season for Duquesne in the A-10 tournament with an overtime victory in the first round.
• La Salle trails in the all-time series against Duquesne 20-22.
• The Explorers snapped a six-game skid against the Dukes' in the teams' first meeting last year. Each of the contests last season were decided by four points.