Cold Shooting Woes Continue for La Salle

Sustained Offense Eludes La Salle in 66 – 42 Loss to UMass

PHILADELPHIA, PA 2/4/2023 –

La Salle came off a game where they made 23.6% of their shots scoring just 38 points in the loss to VCU. In this game against preseason conference favorite UMass, those numbers did not significantly improve. The Explorers made 15 of 60 field goal attempts and put up 42 in the loss at the Gola Arena. Basketball is a numbers game, and when the other team makes 9 more baskets, it is tough to get a win.

“It’s tough to win basketball games if you’re not shooting well,” said La Salle Coach Mountain MacGillivray. “In the first half we struggled with delivering the ball to the open player. We had some opportunities for really easy scores and didn’t execute the passes.”

Offensive Flow Did Not Materialize

It took some time for UMass to get rolling. They used a 14 – 3 run in the second quarter to get a 25 – 10 lead. The Explorers battled back, and got to within 40 – 33 near the end of the third quarter.

“I’m like here we go,” MacGillivray said. “It’s our turn. It’s going to go in now. I’ve seen it happen. Didn’t happen.”

The Minutewomen had the answer in the form of Sydney Taylor and Sam Breen. Taylor scored a game-high 26 points and pulled down 10 boards. Breen had another double-double, her 13th of the season, with 10 points and 15 rebounds. Angelique Ngalakulondi also broke double-digits in points and rebounds getting 11 points and 10 caroms.

UMass won the fourth quarter 21 – 9.

It is hard to celebrate that as the Minutewomen made 24 baskets and had 23 turnovers.

On the other side the Explorers posted 18 turnovers and 15 field goals. Not a recipe for success.

La Salle Building Blocks

Molly Masciantonio and Mia Jacobs had a team-best 9 points each. Masciantonio posted 4 steals, 2 assists and 1 turnover. She leads the country in assist to turnover ratio prior to the game with a 4.26 ratio.

Blame it on the Weather?

Both teams started the game with extremely cold shooting. It took almost 4 minutes until the first basket was scored, a bucket by Explorers forward Claire Jacobs. The first quarter ended with the Minutewomen leading 9 – 7. Both teams made 12.5% from the field. Adding the percentage numbers equaled 25. The temperature outside the Gola Arena was 25 degrees.

Up Next

UMass (19 – 4, 9 – 1) is on an 8-game winning streak. They will host Fordham.

La Salle (14 – 9, 5 – 3) has another opportunity to break out of the shooting slump on Wednesday at Richmond. Keep shooting the key.

“The sun will come up and the ball will go in,” said MacGillivray. “You know, it doesn’t feel like it after back to back games shooting really poorly. But I know the talent on this team. I know we have a team full of shot makers, and I feel bad for the team that is in front of us when the balls get knocked down.”

Boxscore

Written By: Glenn Papazian

Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com

Molly Masciantonio Who Leads the Nation in Assist to Turnover Ratio

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