Women's Basketball | January 21, 2023

CHICAGO, Ill. – The La Salle women's basketball team heads to the Midwest to face recent-member of the Atlantic 10, Loyola Chicago, for the teams' first conference matchup against one another this Sunday, Jan.22. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. central standard time and will stream live on ESPN+.
 
SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:

• La Salle enters the contest at 12-8 on the season and 3-2 in conference playing having won its last three consecutive league matchups. The Explorers most recently handed Saint Joseph's an overdue loss defeating the Hawks 61-58 on their home court.
• Claire Jacobs' 18 points paired with a Mia Jacobs double-double (12 pts. 12 rebs.) were critical to the Explorers' three-point victory. After trailing the entire second quarter, La Salle continued to bring the game within one eventually taking a single-point lead. The 21-point third quarter made the difference for the Explorers holding the Hawks to just 12 points in the frame.
• The three-point margin of victory marked the smallest margin of victory for the Explorers in the series against the Hawks since winning by three in 1996. La Salle has had just five games this season decided by five points or less and is 3-2 when the game is decided by five or fewer.
• Claire Jacobs led the game for the Explorers with 18 points from 7-of-13 shooting including a 2-of-6 effort from the long range and 2-of-2 performance from the line. She leads the Explorers offense averaging a team-high 13.1 points per game. Her focus at the foul line has made a difference shooting 84.3% from the charity stripe this season. The game marked Jacobs' 15^th game in double-digits having reached 10-plus in the last three consecutive contests. Her two made threes move her up to third all-time on the program's 3-pointers made list with 173 career 3-pointers.
• Mia Jacobs 12 points marked her eighth game in double figures including her third straight. The double-double marked the freshman's second of the season making her the first Explorer to record more than one double-double in the season. The 12 rebounds puts her at three games with double-digit rebounding making her the only player to hit double-digit rebounding in more than two games this year. Jacobs' 4-of-4 effort from the line was the seventh time this season she has shot 100% from the charity stripe when attempting at least four free throws.
• Following the game at St. Joe's Molly Masciantonio's assist/turnover ratio of 3.8 percent placed her at second in the nation and first in the Atlantic 10.
• Kayla Spruill had a quiet night with just seven points on 3-of-8 shooting and one three-pointer. She now has 201 career three-pointers placing her just seven away from tying the program record of 208 set by Jamie Walsh (2006-10).
• Kayla Spruill and Claire Jacobs continue to move up the all-time scorers list this season. Spruill's 1,496 put her at fifth all-time while Jacobs' 1,369 puts her at 13th.

SCOUTING THE RAMBLERS:

• Loyola Chicago returns back to action after a week-long break. The Ramblers enter the contest with the Explorers at 6-12 overall and 1-4 in the A-10.
• The Ramblers have dropped the last four consecutive contests, most recently falling to Rhode Island last Sunday recording a season-low 34 points in the contest.
• Freshman Mallory Ramage led the offense for Loyola with a season-high seven points. URI held the Ramblers to just 20% (11-56) from the floor.
• Loyola protected the ball well against the Rams finishing the game with a plus-two in the turnover category. The Ramblers have not committed more turnovers than their opponents in seven consecutive games.

SERIES HISTROY:

• While this may serve as the programs' first meeting as conference foes, the to teams have actually come face-to-face twice before in series history. The series is knotted at 1-1 overall.
• La Salle made the trip out to Chicago once before in the 2011-12 season defeating the Ramblers on their home court. Loyola visited the City of Brotherly Love the year after to hand the Explorers a loss at Tom Gola Arena at TruMark Financial Center.
• A victory for the Explorers will mark a 2-0 performance for the Explorers when visiting the Ramblers and put La Salle back in a single-game win streak.