Fairfax, VA - The La Salle women's basketball team returns to action Wednesday night for an Atlantic 10 showdown against George Mason, as two of the league's remaining unbeaten conference teams square off at EagleBank Arena.
Scouting the Patriots
George Mason enters the matchup as one of four Atlantic 10 programs to open conference play 3–0 with early wins over Dayton and VCU in its last two outings. The Patriots have been tested throughout the non-conference slate, facing three nationally ranked opponents with road losses at No. 9 Maryland, No. 13 Ole Miss, and No. 25 Princeton.
Redshirt junior forward Zahirah Walton has been one of the conference's most productive players, ranking second in the Atlantic 10 in scoring at 20.4 points per game while leading George Mason in rebounds (6.2) and assists (2.6). Walton scored 25 points in the Patriots' recent win at VCU, marking her sixth 20-point performance of the season, and has reached double figures in every game.
La Salle and George Mason have met 17 times since the Patriots joined the Atlantic 10 in 2013, with the Explorers holding a slim 9–8 edge in the series. La Salle dropped the last three meetings after winning six straight prior to the skid.
Party Like It's 2014
Following their win over George Washington, the Explorers are 3–0 in conference play for the first time since the 2013-14 season. That year, La Salle opened Atlantic 10 action with four straight wins and finished 9–7 in league play to place seventh in the conference.
15 + 15 = W
Ashleigh Connor and Aryss Macktoon are the only duo in the Atlantic 10 each averaging at least 15 points per game. When both reach the 15-point mark, the Explorers are undefeated with wins over Loyola (MD), Lehigh, West Chester, and George Washington. The pair also each rank top-five in the conference in steals.
IV "ON" A
Senior Ivona Miljanic ranks top-10 in the Atlantic 10 in three-point percentage (39.2%) and top-20 in three-pointers made (20). La Salle is 6–2 in games where Miljanic connects on at least one triple, and she has knocked down multiple threes in all three conference contests, shooting 37.5 percent from deep.
The Q Factor
La Salle remains undefeated in games where Joan Quinn scores in double figures. The preseason All-Conference selection is averaging 9.8 points, 2.9 assists, and 2.0 steals per game, each ranking top-three on the team.
The Ki to Success
Kiara Williams set a career high with four steals in the win at Fordham while adding 14 points and a team-high seven rebounds. She also recorded a career-high assist total against George Washington. The Explorers are 3–0 when Williams posts multiple steals and 7–0 when she dishes out multiple assists.
Not in a Giving Mood
Aryss Macktoon leads the Atlantic 10 and ranks top-15 nationally with 51 steals this season. Teammates Joan Quinn and Ashleigh Connor allso rank top-10 in the conference in steals per game, anchoring a La Salle defense that continues to pressure opponents and force turnovers.
