Women's Basketball | February 5, 2022

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. ­– The La Salle women's basketball team welcomes Rhode Island to Tom Gola Arena this Sunday, Feb. 6 for a 2 p.m. showdown. The game will stream nationally on ESPN+.
 
SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:

• La Salle (12-9, 5-4 A10) enters its third-consecutive contest in Tom Gola Arena following a tough loss to VCU, 62-56, on Friday night.
• A hot three-point shooting effort from the Explorers in the third forced a 31-31 tie at the half. The third quarter was a true back-and-forth battle that saw four lead changes through the first seven minutes of play, but an 8-2 run from the Rams through the final three minutes pushed them ahead of La Salle indefinitely.
• Kayla Spruill recorded her 15^th game in double figures this season including her second-straight. Spruill went 4-of-6 from the long range in the game marking third time she has buried four buckets from deep this season. Spruill now leads the conference in 3-point field goal percentage (44.8%) and free throw percentage (90.9%). She ranks sixth in rebounding pulling down an average 7.6 boards per game.
• Gabby Crawford and Claire Jacobs are scoring threats for the Explorers each averaging double figures this season. Crawford is averaging 15.3 points per game and adding 7.6 rebounds per game. The junior transfer is shooting 46.8% (52-of-111) from the field.
• Claire Jacobs joins Spruill as a weapon form the 3-point range. She is averaging 10.2 points per game and shooting 36.8% (39-of-106) from deep.
• Molly Masciantonio continues to be the leading helping hand for the Explorers averaging 4.7 assists per game. She currently ranks second in the league in assist to turnover ratio (2.3).
• The Explorers continue to lead the conference in free throw percentage shooting 77.7% from the line this season. La Salle has won the turnover battle in 14 of its contests this season and currently leads the league in turnover margin (2.71).

SCOUTING THE RAMS:

• Rhode Island (17-3, 7-0 A10) enters the contest on the 10-game winning streak most recently defeating Saint Louis 60-52 at home on Wednesday night. The streak is the longest all-time.
• The Rams' 7-0 conference record marks the first time in program history the team has gone 7-0 in conference play.
• A win on Sunday would mark the first time the program has his 18 wins in a single season since its best season all-time, 1995-96. The squad went 21-8 and had the first and only NCAA tournament appearance in program history.
• Chanell Williams is quickly approaching 1,000-career points. Williams scored 15 points last time out against Saint Louis. She has scored in double-figures nine times this year. Williams also performs from the charity stripe shooting 89.1% this season.
• Dolly Cairns has hit 20+ twice on the year and has missed just two of her shots from the charity stripe this season, 17-of-19 (89.5%).
• Rhody sits first in the conference in field goal percentage shooting 43.9% from the field. Emmanuelle Tahane leads the Rams shooting 57.1%. She is the first in the league and 17^th nationally from the floor.

SERIES HISTORY

• The Explorers lead in the all-time series against Rhode Island 29-9. La Salle holds the home advantage 13-4, but has not won a game in Tom Gola Arena against the Rams since the 2018-19 season.
• In the team's last meeting on Jan. 29, 2021, the Explorers gave up a season-high 31 points in the final frame to help seal the victory for Rhode Island.
• A trio of Explorers ended the game in double figures led by Kayla Spruill with 18 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Claire Jacobs totaled 15 points and Molly Masciantonio secured an even 10.