PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore returned from a two-game road trip to play host to a veteran La Salle squad that managed to hold off the Hawks 77-70 in Philadelphia last year.
The Explorers (6-4) have a veteran squad including graduate student Kayla Spruill, who leads the team in scoring with 13.9 points per game. The 6-foot forward also pulls down a team-high 4.9 rebounds a game.
"They are a really solid team," Batchelor said. "They run a really great system that matches their skillset, so they are a tough challenge to defend. It's not an easy solution and you have to go to something that you feel is going to be most effective and then do it the best you can."
The Hawks (3-8) want to limit access to the rim, while also getting out on the Explorers' three point shooters on the perimeter.
"They play five kids that can hit the three," Batchelor said. "They play a five-out offense, spread the floor and it's the perfect system for their personnel."
Lasalle also boasts a family attack. Senior 6-foot guard Amy Jacobs and her twin sister Mia Jacob are two of the team's leaders. And if that isn't enough, Claire Jacobs, a 6-ofoot-2 freshman paired with her sisters for 34 of the Explorers 66 points in the team's win against Monmouth.
"We have to find something to do to slow down their offense and then we have to shoot a solid percentage form the field and from the free throw line — not so much the three-point line," Batchelor said. "But we have got to take care of the ball."
UMES has shown the capability to take care of the basketball including just five turnovers in a win at Navy, but they have also shown no consistency, which is often the curse of a young team.
"We are going to need the type of defensive commitment that we got from Lesley Thomas (Browns Summit, North Carolina) over the last few games when she has drawn multiple charges," Batchelor said. "Lesley leads us in prayer every day and hopefully they will follow her on defense tomorrow."
The game will be broadcast live on HBCUGO.TV at 1 p.m.
