Baltimore, MD – The La Salle women's basketball team opens the 2025-26 season on the road at Loyola (MD) on Thursday at 7:00 PM, marking the programs' first meeting since 2010. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
Scouting the Greyhounds
Loyola opened its season Monday with an 80-26 loss at No. 10 Maryland, its first ranked matchup since facing No. 3 Notre Dame last December. Junior guard Kimmie Hicks led with eight points, while graduate forward Lex Thieren added seven rebounds and two steals. Only six Greyhounds scored in what was their worst loss since a 105-45 defeat to (coincidentally) Maryland in 2019.
Loyola finished ninth in the Patriot League last season at 9-21 (4-14). Eight of its top nine scorers return, led by junior guard Amandine Amorich (299 points in 30 games) and Hicks, who averaged a team-best 14.6 points before a season-ending injury. Head coach Danielle O'Banion enters her fifth season after a previous stint at Kent State (2012–16). A Boston College alum, she owns a 61-179 career record and guided Loyola to a 16-15 finish in 2023-24.
All-Time Matchup
La Salle holds a 3-1 record against Loyola (MD) since 2005-06. The teams last met in 2010, when the Explorers won 64-57 behind Nadia Duncan's 19-point, 15-rebound double-double.
Hall of Fame Inductees
Former Explorers, Cheryl Reeve ('88) and Amy Griffin ('18) were each inducted into hall of fame classes recently, with Reeve joining the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and Griffin being added to the Big 5 Hall of Fame. Reeve led the Explorers to the NCAA Tournament twice while Griffin ranks third all-time in points for the team.
First Day Out
La Salle is 1-1 in season openers over the past two years, earning a 73-68 win at Coppin State in 2023, also in Baltimore. Then-freshman Aryss Macktoon led with 17 points in her collegiate debut in her hometown.
Joanie's Preseason Recognition
Sophomore Joan Quinn was named to the Preseason Atlantic 10 All-Conference Third Team after averaging over nine points per game as a freshman and leading La Salle in multiple categories including minutes played and FT%. She scored in double figures 13 times last season, including a career-high 23 points at Saint Joseph's.
The Big 3
Returners Ashleigh Connor, Aryss Macktoon, and Joan Quinn combined to average over 30 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists per game last season.
New Faces
La Salle added eight newcomers, including five freshmen, with plenty of opportunity following seven departures.
Ice in Her Veins
Redshirt junior guard Ashleigh Connor hit a buzzer-beater and-one to lift La Salle to its first Atlantic 10 playoff win since 2020-21, defeating VCU for the second time in less than a week. The Explorers won the two contests by a combined three points with plenty of late game theatrics in each.
Ms. International
Six countries are represented on La Salle's 2025-26 roster: the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Poland, and Serbia.
Up Next
La Salle will host Saint Francis on Saturday at 12:00 pm as part of La Salle University's homecoming festivities.
