1/24/23
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – The Lackawanna College women's basketball team will do its best to rebound as the Falcons head back into Region XIX play with a very important road game against Essex County College on Tuesday, January 24^th.
 
The game is set for a 5:00pm ET tip-off inside the Essex County College Physical Education Building on campus in Newark, NJ, and will be the first game of a doubleheader, with the men's squads set to play immediately afterwards at 7:00pm ET. As of writing, there is no video livestream available.
 
The Falcons were victorious in their first meeting with the Wolverines, 56-51, back on November 22^nd. In that game, Lackawanna was led by Mahogony Collins, who posted 18 points and 13 rebounds, and Gabrielle Jackson, who scored ten points and had a big fourth quarter to help boost the Falcons to victory. Read the recap HERE.
 
About The Falcons
Lackawanna College (7-6, 4-1) comes into the contest after a tough 89-50 setback at the hands of the Monroe College Mustangs this past weekend. After a tight first quarter ended with Lackawanna down 18-14, the Mustangs shot 66% in the second quarter, outscoring Lackawanna 32-13 and holding the Birds without a made field goal for over four minutes of game time at one point. That burst was all Monroe needed to put the Falcons away and take the win. Read the recap HERE.
 
The Falcons are averaging 63 points per game, and are giving up slightly over 62 points per game on the year. The Falcons are hitting around 35% from the field, and are holding opponents to 33% on the year. Lackawanna College has struggled from deep, shooting just 18% from downtown this year. Lackawanna is hitting 65% of its free throws this season, going 151-for-233 on the year. The Falcons are even on rebounding margin so far this season, and have forced an average of 16 turnovers per game this season, while giving the ball up around 17 times per game. The Falcons average just under five blocks per game, defensively, and they average around eight steals per game, while their opponents are up to ten swipes per contest.  
 
The Falcons are balanced, with five players averaging eight points or more per game this season. Last year's second-leading scorer, and 2^nd Team All-Region selection, Gabrielle Jackson (Darby Twp, PA), is first on the team in scoring, averaging 10.5 points per game. Jackson is pulling down 4.4 rebounds per contest, and has 29 total assists, first on the team, while putting up 123total steals so far this year in eleven games. Jackson, back for her third year, is second on the team in field goal percentage (42.5%) and has made 20 free throws through her eleven games. Jackson has scored in double-figures seven times this season, going for a season-best 20 points in the win vs. Morris. Jackson hit a season-high ten shots from the floor, and set a season-high in rebounds (9), while tying season-highs in steals (3) and assists (5). Jackson has scored double-figures in five of her last seven games, and had 17 points and six rebounds in the win over Chesapeake last week. Against Monroe, she had three points and four rebounds. Jackson had ten points and five assists, as well as four boards, in the win over Essex earlier this season.  
 
Sidney Spence (Bronx, NY) is second on the squad, averaging 9.2 points per game on the year. Spence leads the team in shooting, hitting 46% of her shots this year, and is fourth on the team in free throw percentage, hitting 67% of her shots from the charity stripe this season, where she is second on the team in makes (26). She's third on the team in rebounds (5.5 per game) and has 15 steals this year, second on the team. Spence has scored in double-figures eight times this year, including three of her four games in the spring semester, and had a season-best 19 points in 23 minutes in the win over Jamestown. Spence was 7-for-16 form the field, and went 5-for-7 from the free throw line, while tying her season-high with nine rebounds in the win over the Jayhawks. Spence scored 12 points on 4-for-12 shooting, and was 4-for-7 from the free throw line, in the loss to Monroe. Against Essex, she was held scoreless in just three minutes of action earlier this season.   
 
Nya Jackson (Harrisburg, PA), a returner from last year, is third on the team, averaging nine points per game. Jackson averages just under four rebounds per game, and is second on the team in assists, putting up 26 in 12 games of work. Jackson is shooting 27% from the field, but is 29-for-37 from the free throw line on the season, a team-best 78% average. Jackson has 14 steals, third on the team this season. Jackson has scored in double-figures six times this season, scoring her season-best 16 points twice this year, once in the loss to Harcum and then again in the win over Union. In the Harcum game, Nya had six shots from the floor and had five rebounds and three assists. Jackson had 16 points on 5-for-10 shooting with two rebounds and three assists in the win over Union, while also going 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Jackson was held to just one point in 31 minutes in the loss to Monroe over the weekend. Against Essex, she had just two points, but put up her season-high rebounds (9) and assists (6) in the win.     
 
Dominique Geiger (Plainfield, NJ) has had a good start to her first season as a Falcon, as she's tied for fourth on the team in scoring at 8.5 points per game this year. Geiger is hitting 37% of her shots this year, and has hit ten free throws this season. She also has eight makes from downtown, second on the team. Geiger has 12 steals on the season and also has 16 assists this year. She's gone for double-digits in points in four games, including against Morris, where she set her season-high with 25 points. Geiger was 11-for-22 from the floor, and hit three three-point shots, while grabbing four rebounds and setting her season-high in steals with three swipes on the evening. Against Monroe, she had two points and two assists in 12 minutes. Geiger had nine points on 4-for-7 shooting in the win over Essex earlier this season.
 
Cianna Roberts (Brooklyn, NY), who played a majority of bench minutes a year ago, is tied with Geiger for fourth on the team, averaging 8.5 points per game and pulling down 4.2 rebounds per game, fifth on the squad. Roberts is hitting around 36% of her shots this year, and has been the most accurate of the three-point shooters for the Falcons, going 11-for-42 from deep this year. Roberts leads the Falcons with 17 steals on the year. She's also third on the team with 20 total assists this year. Roberts has scored in double-figures five times this season, including a season-best 17 points in the win over Union in December. Roberts was 7-for-9 from the field, and had five rebounds and two assists to help the Falcons to victory. Against Monroe CC, Roberts had her first double-double as a Falcon, going for 14 points and ten rebounds in the win. Roberts was 5-for-13 from the field, including 2-for-3 from three-point range. Cianna scored 12 points on 4-for-11 shooting, making a season-best three three-pointers, in the loss to Monroe this weekend. Against Essex earlier this year, Roberts had nine points and two rebounds in the win.   
 
Mahogony Collins (Harrisburg, PA) is up to 5.3 points per game this year, and averages 10.7 rebounds per game, tops on the team. Collins has also denied a team-best 58 shots this year, good for 4.8 blocks per game. That rate has Collins ranked among the best in the country, second in all of the NJCAA Division II players. Collins is now shooting 37% from the field this year, and has 34 offensive rebounds on the year. Collins got her season and career-high in points against Essex, where she scored 18 points and had 13 rebounds, along with six blocks.  She's crossed double-digits in rebounds six times this year, already. Collins set her season-high in rebounding with 21 boards against Monroe College Bronx, and then set her season-high in blocks with eight rejections in the game against Chesapeake. She also had eight points and nine rebounds in the win. Mahogony did not play in the last game against Monroe.
 
The newest face in the women's basketball program is Monica Spence, entering her first year in charge of the program. Spence follows in the footsteps of Joya Whittington, who was third all-time in wins as a coach and led the Falcons to several stops in the national tournament. Spence joined as an assistant last season, and was elevated to head coach with Whittington's departure. Spence has spent time as a coach at the youth level, as well as the semi-professional men's basketball level.
 
About the Opponents
The Wolverines (11-5, 2-3) have not competed in nine days, since a win over Erie CC back on January 15^th. They have won seven of their last eight games with the lone loss coming to Monroe back on January 14^th. In the win over Erie, Essex shot 35% from the field, and hit eleven three-point shots, while putting up 14 steals and forcing 29 turnovers in the 68-39 win. The Wolverines used a 28-10 second quarter to blow the game wide open, and put three players in double-figures in the win. Essex's three Region losses this year all came in a row, with back-to-back-to-back losses to Lackawanna, Harcum, and Union. As of right now, the Wolverines are fourth in the region standings.
 
The Wolverines are averaging just under 67 points per game this year, and have defended very well, holding opponents to 53 points per contest. Essex is shooting over 33% from the field, and hitting around 29% from three-point range, while their opponents have been about the same (33%/30%). Essex is +1 in rebounding margin, but they hound the opposition on defense, averaging over 15 steals per game, and forcing over 22 turnovers per contest, while only giving the ball up an average of 13 times per game.
 
Five players are averaging nine or more points this season, with Camille Arias leading the charge at 13 points per game. Arias, who has started just one game this year, has emerged as the scoring threat off the bench, shooting 37% from the field and 35% from three-point range this year. Arias averages over three rebounds per game, and is good for just over one steal per contest this year. Arias has scored in double-figures eight times this season, going for her season-best 31 in a 117-30 win over SUNY Rockland back on December 3^rd. In that game, Arias was 13-for-21, sinking four three-pointers in the victory. Four times she's gone over 20 points this year. She made a season-best eight three-point shots in a 25-point performance against Brookdale back on January 12^th. Against Erie, Arias had 15 points on 5-for-13 shooting, all three-point shots. Arias has scored in double-figures in three of four games this spring semester. Against Lackawanna back in November, she had just six points on 2-for-12 shooting, going 2-for-10 from downtown.
 
Naomi Lucca is second on the squad, averaging 11.6 points per game this year. She's shooting around 38% overall, and 30% from the three-point line, while hitting nearly 77% of her free throws. Lucca averages a team-high nine rebounds per game, and also finds time to put up 1.6 steals per contest, good for fifth on the team. Lucca has five games in which she's scored double-figures, putting up her season-high against Catonsville, scoring 18 points on 6-for-11 shooting and hitting a pair of three-point shots. Lucca has four double-doubles on the year, crossing double-digits in rebounds four times. Her best rebounding output came against RCSJ Cumberland, where she put up 17 rebounds and scored 16 points in the win over the Dukes back in November. Lucca had four points on 2-for-7 shooting and seven rebounds in the loss to Lackawanna back in November. She has not played since the Union game back on December 1^st.
 
Mia Martinez is averaging 10.9 points per game this season, good for third on the team. Martinez is shooting around 34% from the field, and hitting just shy of 70% of her free throws this year. Martinez is third on the team in rebounds (7.0 per game), and leads the Wolverines in assists (4.3) and steals (3.2) so far this season. Martinez has scored in double-figures nine times this year, including three of her last four games. Against Union, on the road, she put up her season-high with 21 points on 7-for-16 shooting, one of two times she has scored 20 points or more this year. Martinez has a pair of double-doubles in points and rebounds, and owns one triple-double on the year, going for 12 points, and a season-high in rebounds (17) and assists (16) in the win over SUNY Rockland back on December 3^rd.  In her last game, Martinez had eight points, five rebounds, and nine assists, as well as a season-high seven steals, in the win over Erie CC for the Wolverines. Against Lackawanna, she scored eight points on 3-for-10 shooting, pulling down eight rebounds in the loss.
 
Right behind Mia in scoring is her sister, Ania Martinez, averaging 10.6 points per game, while shooting 35% from the field and 36% from downtown. Ania is also a 69% free throw shooter, and is second on the team in assists (3.9 per game) and steals (3.1). She also averages 3.8 rebounds per game. Ania has scored in double-figures seven times this season, with her season-high 22 points coming in the win over SUNY Rockland, where she was 9-for-13 from the floor. She also posted her season-high assists (8) and steals (9) in the win over the Hawks. She has twice posted her season-high in rebounds (6) this year. Against Erie, Ania had nine points and three assists in the win. In the loss to Lackawanna, she had 17 points on five made three-point shots, with three rebounds and four assists.
 
Ja'Laiyah Smith is averaging 9.3 points per game this year. Smith is shooting 31% from the field, and nearly 67% from the free throw line. Smith is second on the team in rebounding (8.9 per game), and is third on the team in assists (2.4). Smith is also first in blocks per game (2.1) and third in steals per game (2.0). Smith has scored in double-figures seven times this season, going for her season-best 16 points in an 87-43 win over Morris back on December 10^th. In that game, Smith was 5-for-10 from the field, and hit four free throws, while putting up nine rebounds. Smith has two double-doubles on the year, and set her season-high in rebounds against Brookdale with 13 boards in the win over the Jersey Blues earlier this month. Smith had seven points and 12 rebounds in the win over Erie last week. Against Lackawanna, she was held to five points on 2-for-10 shooting, with 12 rebounds in the loss.   
 
Chloe Cassidy, back from last year's team, is averaging 6.9 points per game this year. Cassidy is hitting 25% from the field and just 19% from the three-point line, but is the team-leader in free throw percentage (78%). Cassidy averages 2.8 rebounds per game, and 1.4 assists per game this year. Cassidy has scored in double-figures four times this season, scoring her season-high with 18 points twice, once in the win over SUNY Rockland, where she went 6-for-14 from the floor in the win. She also had a season-best six assists in the victory.  The other came earlier in the year in a win over SUNY Sullivan, where she had 18 points on 6-for-14 shooting, making four free throws and grabbing a season-best six rebounds in the win. Against Erie, she had four points on 1-for-11 shooting, putting up five rebounds and a pair of assists in the win. Against Lackawanna earlier this season, Cassidy scored eleven points, but shot 4-for-15 from the field, going 2-for-10 from deep in the loss.
 
The head coach for the Wolverines is Anthony Green, who had previously spent three years as an assistant with the men's basketball team at Essex before stepping into the head coaching role for the women's squad in 2020. Green, a former Felician College standout, has spent the last decade in coaching in New Jersey, coaching numerous AAU teams, while also serving as a freshman basketball coach at Hudson Catholic HS. This is Green's second year in charge, and he has a 25-13 overall record.
  
The Match-Up
The game is set for a 5:00pm ET tip-off inside the Essex County College Physical Education Building on campus in Newark, NJ, and will be the first game of a doubleheader, with the men's squads set to play immediately afterwards at 7:00pm ET. As of writing, there is no video livestream available.
 
The next game for the Falcons will be a Region XIX divisional cross-over contest against Northampton CC. That game is set for a 5:00pm ET tip-off inside the Lackawanna College Student Union gymnasium on Thursday, January 26^th.