WASHINGTON – The American University women's basketball team will face its first road test when it heads up to Philadelphia to take on the Explorers of La Salle University. The Eagles started the season off with a big home win over Longwood on Monday night and will go again against La Salle on Saturday, Nov. 11 with a schedule tip off of 12 p.m.

QUICK INFO

• Date/Time: Saturday, Nov. 11; 12 p.m.
• Site: Philadelphia, Pa. (Tom Gola Arena at TruMark Financial Center)
• Series History: La Salle leads American, 6-3
• TV: ESPN+

INSIDE THE SERIES

• La Salle leads American 6-3 in the all-time series.
• The last time the two programs face off, the result was the first win for American in over thirty years, the Eagles topping the Explorers 66-48 on Nov. 13, 2017.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT AMERICAN

• The Eagles look to build upon a win in their home opener after defeating Longwood 81-68. The Eagles' 81 points surpassed the Eagles' highest point total from last season when they scored 78 in their Patriot League First Round win over Navy. 
• American's offense was sparked by senior Riley DeRubbo, who put up 22 points off the bench and shot 7-8 from behind the arc. DeRubbo made her return to the team after missing most of last season with an injury.
• Sophomore Molly Lavin also was a difference maker off the bench for the Eagles, scoring 15 points on 6-8 shooting while also recording nine rebounds. In total, American's bench combined for 48 of the teams' 81 points.
• Leading American is Patriot League Preseason All-League team selection Emily Johns. Johns led the team in scoring with 12.6 ppg last season. She put up 12 points and grabbed six rebounds in the season opener.
• At the helm for American is second year head coach Tiffany Coll. Coll came to American in 2013 and served five years as an assistant and four years as the associate head coach before being promoted to her current role in June 2022.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT LA SALLE

• The Explorers opened the season with a 73-68 win over Coppin State that saw three players–Aryss Macktoon (17), Nicole Melious (16), and Jolene Armendariz (10)–scoring in double digits. Armendariz secured a double-double with her 10 rebounds as well.
• La Salle dropped their home opener to Maine on Thursday, Nov. 9, falling 58-48. The Black Bears were able to keep all but Macktoon (10) from scoring in double digits and out-rebounded the Explorers 50-32.
• La Salle will have a new look this season with a myriad of new faces after only returning five players from last season's roster. 
• Among La Salle's five returners is graduate student Molly Masciantonio. Masciantonio led the Explorers with 118 assists last season and led the entire NCAA with a 4.72 assist to turnover ratio.
• La Salle will also look to get a spark from freshman Melious, who set the New York City all-time single season scoring record in high school.

KEEP UP WITH US

• For the latest on American University Women's Basketball, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_WBasketball) and Instagram (@auwbasketball).