Women's Basketball | December 6, 2022

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The La Salle women's basketball team looks to get back on track following its set back against Temple as the team takes on Monmouth in Tom Gola Arena this Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 6:30 p.m. The game will stream live on ESPN+.
 
Fans are encouraged to arrive early as the first 100 in attendance will receive an exclusive La Salle ornament. La Salle continues its Toys For Tots drive through the month of December, so be sure to bring your unwrapped gift for donation.
 
SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:

• The Explorers look to bounce back at home following a tough loss on the road to Temple, 70-56, on Monday night.
• La Salle trailed by as many as 16 points overcoming the deficit early in the fourth frame to tie it, 50-50. 15 unanswered points followed for the Owls to put the Explorers out of reach of the victory.
• Claire Jacobs ended the game with 13 points, her sixth game of the season in double-digits. Her eight-point performance comprised of a 4-of-5 effort from the foul line played an integral part in the Explorers comeback in the game. She still remains one of only two Explorers to reach 20-plus points scoring this season accomplishing the task in back-to-back games.
• Kayla Spruill had a quiet night with just three points on 1-of-11 shooting. She continues to serve as La Salle's leading scorer averaging 13.9 points per game. Her field goal percentage, 46.8%, and rebounds per game, 4.9, rank second on the roster. The graduate student is also one of two Explorers to have reached the 20-point mark this season, doing it twice. She has recorded the most double-figure games this season with seven.
• Amy Jacobs has played in integral role for La Salle's defense this year. She leads the team in rebounding averaging 5.5 boards per game and has remained consistent on offense shooting 51.4% from the field, the highest shooting percentage of any Explorer.
• Charity Shears was back on the scoring train for the Explorers against Temple as the only other player to end the night in double-digits. The graduate transfer recorded 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting including 2-of-5 from deep and 2-of-5 from the line. The game marked Shears' fifth 10-plus point game of the season.
• Early momentum is the key for the Explorers as the team has yet to concede a victory when leading at halftime this season. La Salle has lost all three contests this season when scoring under 50 points in the game.
• The return of Molly Masciantonio has continued to make a difference. The graduate student led the team in assists with six while only giving up one turnover.
• The Explorers rank fifth in the Atlantic 10 in scoring averaging 69.9 points per game through 10 games.

SCOUTING THE HAWKS:

• Monmouth enters the contest at 5-3 having won its last two consecutive contests including an overtime thriller against NJIT on Nov. 27. The Hawks most recently defeated St. Francis Brooklyn on Dec. 1, 57-44.
• The Hawks enter the contest having recorded at least four blocks in six-straight games. The team leads the Colonial Athletic Association in blocks averaging 4.25 per game.
• Monmouth was strong around the rim against the Terriers with a +14 margin. Ariana Vanderhoop led the efforts with a career-high 12 boards in the game.
• The Hawks knocked down nine 3-point buckets in the game making them 4-1 when making eight or more threes in a game.
• The team is one of five in the conference averaging 14 or more assists per game having recorded 11 against St. Francis Brooklyn.
• 10 of Monmouth's 12 players scored at least three points in the contest led by Jen Louro with a season-high 12 points

SERIES HISTORY:

• This is the seventh overall meeting between the teams and the second under the tenure of head coach Mountain MacGillivray.
• La Salle leads the all-time series 5-1 and has won the last two consecutive games against the Hawks.
• The Explorers search for their first home victory against Monmouth since their 62-60 win on Feb. 15, 1983.
• Kayla Spruill, Claire Jacobs Molly Masciantonio, Jaye Haynes and Amy Jacobs all return from the squad's last head-to-head matchup with the Hawks.