Women's Basketball | December 2, 2022

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The La Salle women's basketball team is set to play its second consecutive game in Tom Gola Arena this Saturday, Dec. 3 against Lehigh. Tip off is set for 2 p.m. The game will stream live on ESPN+.
 
The Explorers vs. Pediatric Cancer game, in its second year, partners with La Salle Explorathon and the B+ Foundation in the fight against pediatric cancer. The contest honors head coach Mountain MacGillivray's daughter, Emily, in her own fight. Fans will have the opportunity to participate in a 50/50 raffle with proceeds going to the B+ Foundation. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to receive their #ClimbWithEmily shirt, courtesy of City View, while supplies last.
 
The team will also be conducting its Toys For Tots drive during the month of December. In the spirit of the holidays, fans are encouraged to bring an unwrapped gift for donation.
 
SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:

• La Salle has yet to play back-to-back home games this season as this will only be the Explorers third home contest following five road games, including two stints of three consecutive road contests. The Explorers were 8-4 when playing executive games at home last season only winning back-to-back games in Tom Gola Arena twice last year.
• The Explorers enter the contest following a tough loss against Penn on Tuesday night marking the first home loss of the season for La Salle. The Quakers put together an early 6-0 run to start the game putting La Salle in the chase throughout the remainder of play eventually dropping the contest 72-59. La Salle has now lost by a margin of 13 points twice this season, its largest margin of deficit.
• Gabby Crawford led the game for the Explorers setting a new season-high in points with 17 from 7-of-15 shooting and a 3-of-4 effort from the charity stripe. She now has five 10-plus point game this season including two consecutive games where she set a season-high in points. The senior pulled down a team-high eight boards in the contest also marking a season-high.
• Charity Shears ended the game in double digits following a perfect fourth quarter shooting 3-of-3 from the field with 2-of-2 buckets coming from deep. Her 13-points marked her fourth double-digit scoring effort of the season.
• Claire Jacobs recorded yet another game in double-figures. Her 10 points puts her at five double-digit games this year.
• La Salle's 13 steals in the game marks the most this season for the Blue & Gold. The contest marks the fifth time this season La Salle has either tied its opponent in turnovers or committed less. 
• Crawford and Claire Jacobs join Kayla Spruill as the only Explorers averaging double-digit points for La Salle this season. Jacobs is still the only Explorer to reach 20-plus points this season while sister Mia Jacobs is the only one to reach double-digit rebounding this season.

 
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAIN HAWKS:

• The Mountain Hawks enter the contest at 3-5 with their most recent win coming on Wednesday night in an 81-67 victory over Rider.
• Frannie Hottinger and Mackenzie Kramer combined for more than 50% of Lehigh's points in the game. Hottinger had a career night with 34 points and 13 rebounds. Kramer hit 26 points in the game.
• Lehigh is leading the nation in three-point field goals made per game (11.4).
• The Mountain Hawks are one of only two programs in the nation with two players in the top 50 in the nation in scoring with Hottinger tied for 16^th averaging 20.6 points and Kramer in 32^nd averaging 19.6 points each through eight games.
• Lily Fandre has made noise for Lehigh this season recently being named a Patriot League honorable mention this past Monday after recording a career-high 13 points and five rebounds against Drexel. She also recorded a career-high of seven rebounds against Quinnipiac.
• The Mountain Hawks like to shoot from the long range. The team set the Patriot League single-game record of 17 3-pointers in a win over Loyola. The team ranks eighth in the nation in 2-pointers made per game and seventh in the nation in 3-pointers attempted. Kramer serves as the leading 3-point shooter averaging 6.7 threes per game.

SERIES HISTORY:

• Saturday's game between Lehigh and La Salle will be the 17th overall meeting between the two teams and the first since the 2017-18 season.
• La Salle holds a three-game win streak in the series and is 5-1 when hosting the Mountain Hawks.
• In the teams' last meeting, La Salle built up a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter before a Lehigh rally cut the deficit to just four. The Explorers were able to halt the comeback attempt and hold Lehigh scoreless over the last 57 seconds for the 69-61 win.
• This will be the first home contest for the Explorers in the series since Nov. 11, 2011.