2/9/23
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – Lackawanna College women's basketball will honor its sophomores and upperclasswomen in its regular season Region XIX finale, at home, on Thursday evening, when the Falcons welcome in the Raritan Valley CC Lions for the last regular season home game of the year for Lackawanna College.
 
The game is set for a 5:00pm ET tip-off inside the Lackawanna College Student Union gymnasium, and will be the first game of a doubleheader, with the men's teams set to tip-off immediately following the conclusion. The game is open to the public, with admission sold at the door for students ($3) and adults ($5). Lackawanna College students can gain free entry with a valid student ID. Before the game, there will be a program to celebrate the six sophomores who will be playing their final regular season home games as Falcons. It's also faculty and staff appreciate night at Lackawanna, where we will be celebrating the difference makers in our student-athletes' times at Lackawanna with a special presentation between games.
 
There will be a video livestream available via the Lackawanna College Falcons and Region 19 Sports Networks. You can access the pay-per-view stream via lackawannafalcons.com/LIVE. Steve Young will handle the play-by-play, while Sports Information Director Tom Ferguson will provide color commentary.
 
This is the second meeting of the year between the Falcons and the Lions, who played back on December 8^th in Branchburg, NJ, where the Falcons led wire-to-wire in a 65-48 win over Raritan Valley. You can read the recap HERE.
 
About The Falcons
Lackawanna College (9-9, 3-4) enters Thursday's game after a 77-49 win on the road at Montgomery County CC in a Region XIX Division II/III crossover match-up on Tuesday. Lackawanna College was a little sluggish out of the gates, but snapped into shape in the second half, scoring 44 points to put things out of reach. The Falcons had 17 steals, second-most on the year in a game. Four players scored in double-figures, with Gabrielle Jackson going for a team-high 21 points, her season-high and the third straight game in which she's scored in double-figures. Nya Jackson added 15 points, and Mahogony Collins had ten points and ten boards for a double-double. Sidney Spence added ten points and five rebounds off the bench, while posting four steals. The Falcons made eight three-point shots and were 34.8% from beyond-the-arc, a season-best for the squad. The win helped the Falcons snap a two-game losing streak, but had no effect on the current Division II standings, where the Falcons sit in fourth-place, behind Essex County College. If the season were to end today, the Falcons would be the fourth-seed, and have either a home game against fifth-seeded Raritan Valley, or be on the road at top-seeded Harcum College. Both Lackawanna (tonight vs. Raritan) and Essex (tonight vs. Union) have one game remaining in Division II play. If the Falcons win, and Essex loses, Lackawanna would hop the Wolverines into the third-seed, and be destined to play at Union in the Region XIX DII semi-finals.
 
The Falcons are averaging 62.4 points per game, and are giving up 60.5 points per game on the year. The Falcons are hitting around 35% from the field, and are holding opponents to 32.6% on the year. Lackawanna College has struggled from deep, shooting just 20.5% from downtown this year. Lackawanna is hitting 67% of its free throws this season, going 197-for-294 on the year. The Falcons are about 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 18 times per game. The Falcons average 5.6 blocks per game, defensively, and they average around nine steals per game, while their opponents are up to eleven swipes per contest.  
 
The Falcons are balanced, with five players averaging around 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 11.2 points per game. Jackson is pulling down five rebounds per contest, fourth on the team, and has 42 total assists, first on the team, while putting up 19 total steals so far this year. Jackson, back for her third year, is second on the team in field goal percentage (41%) and has made 30 free throws on the year for a 62.5% clip. Jackson has scored in double-figures ten times this season, going for her season-best 21 points on Tuesday against Montco. Jackson was 9-for-14 from the floor and hit three three-point shots, while pulling down seven rebounds and doling out two assists in the win. In her last three games, Jackson is averaging 18 points per game, seven rebounds per game, and is shooting 46.3% from the field, while hitting eight three-point shots. Against Raritan back in December, Jackson had eleven points on 5-for-9 shooting, with four rebounds and a pair of assists.       
 
Nya Jackson (Harrisburg, PA), a returner from last year, is second on the team, averaging 9.6 points per game. Jackson averages just under four rebounds per game, and is second on the team in assists, putting up 37 on the year. Jackson is shooting 29% from the field, but is 35-for-44 from the free throw line on the season, a team-best 79.5% average. Jackson has 20 steals, fourth on the team this season. Jackson has scored in double-figures eight times this season, and had her season-best performance against Essex this semester, where she scored a season-high 18 points on 7-for-17 shooting, knocking down two three-pointers and pulling down four rebounds. Jackson had 15 points and four rebounds in the win over Montco this past Tuesday. Against Raritan in December, she had 15 points and four boards, along with three steals, in the Falcon win.  
 
Sidney Spence (Bronx, NY) is third on the squad, averaging 8.9 points per game on the year. Spence leads the team in shooting, hitting 43.6% of her shots this year, and is fourth on the team in free throw percentage, hitting 71.7% of her shots from the charity stripe this season, where she leads the team in makes (38). She's third on the team in rebounds (5.1 per game) and has 24 steals this year, second on the team. Spence has scored in double-figures ten times this year, including five times in the spring semester. Spence set her season-high in the win against Northampton, going for 20 points on 8-for-14 shooting, while pulling down five rebounds against the Spartans. Against Montco, she had ten points, five rebounds, and tied her season-high with four steals in the win over the Mustangs. In the first go-round against Raritan, she had five points and five rebounds in 12 minutes of action.  
 
Dominique Geiger (Plainfield, NJ) is averaging an even eight points per game this year, fourth on the team. Geiger is hitting 34.5% of her shots this year, and has made eleven three-point shots, which is fourth on the team this year. Geiger has 21 steals on the season (Third on the team) and also has 26 assists. She's gone for double-digits in points in five 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 posting three steals on the evening. Geiger had scored seven points and had a season-high five steals in the win over Montgomery County on Tuesday. In the first match-up with Raritan, Geiger had 14 points on 6-for-12 shooting in the win.
 
Cianna Roberts (Brooklyn, NY) is averaging 7.9 points per game and pulling down just over four rebounds per game. Roberts is hitting around 35% of her shots this year, and has the second-most makes from deep with 14, trailing only Seanlajah Smith. Roberts leads the Falcons in steals (25) this season, and is also third on the team with 30 total assists this year. Roberts has scored in double-figures six 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. Roberts had seven points, four rebounds, and a season-best four assists in the win over Montco on Tuesday. Against Raritan in December, she was held to two points in a season-low 15 minutes of time, but still managed six rebounds and a pair of assists in the win.    
 
Mahogony Collins (Harrisburg, PA) is up to six points per game this year, and averages 11.2 rebounds per game, tops on the team. Collins has also denied a team-best 91 shots this year, good for 5.3 blocks per game. That rate has Collins as the #1 shot-blocker among all NJCAA Division II players. Collins is now shooting 39% from the field this year, and has 52 offensive rebounds on the year. Collins got her season and career-high in points against Essex in November, where she scored 18 points and had 13 rebounds, along with six blocks.  She's crossed double-digits in rebounds eleven times this year, already. Collins set her season-high in rebounding with 21 boards against Monroe College Bronx. She also had eight points and nine rebounds in the win. Against Northampton, Collins had 15 rebounds and nine blocks, setting a season-high for rejections this year. Collins got her second double-double of the year with ten points and ten rebounds against Montgomery County on Tuesday. She has reached double-digit rebounds in six of eight games this spring semester.
 
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
Raritan Valley (10-16, 0-7) has had an up-and-down year, which has been evidenced by the spring semester scheduled, with the Lions trading losses and wins every other game through ten games. The Lions lost their last game, a home game against Union County, 84-28. Raritan struggled to hang on to the ball, turning it over 38 times, and shooting just 25.6% from the field, while the Owls had 27 steals, 19 offensive rebounds, and shot 43.4% from the field in victory. Raritan was led by Tiana Presley, who scored a team-high nine points and had eleven rebounds. Kerine Thomas added seven points, but struggled from the field, going just 2-for-16. 
 
Raritan Valley is averaging around 57 points per game, and giving up just under 62 points per game on the year. The Lions are hitting around 29% of their three-point attempts, and 36% overall from the field this year, while their opponents shoot 37% overall, and are hitting around 28% from downtown. Raritan holds a +1 rebounding margin advantage, and the Lions are averaging around six steals per game. However, Raritan averages close to 19 turnovers per game, while forcing 12 per contest. Their opponents are averaging eleven steals per game.   
 
The aforementioned Kerine Thomas leads the Lions in scoring, averaging 14.9 points per game this year. She's shooting 35% from the field, and averaging 31.6% from downtown. Thomas is second on the team in assists, dishing out 3.3 per game, and leads the Lions in steals at 1.2 steals per contest. She also averages 3.7 rebounds per game this year. Thomas has scored in double-figures 19 times this year, scoring over 20 points on five separate occasions. She hit her season-high with 34 points in the 74-14 win over Morris on February 4^th. She was 12-for-24 from the field, and made a season-high nine three-point shots. She has one double-double on the year, with 13 points and a season-high 12 rebounds in a loss to Harcum on January 24^th. She set her season-high in assists with nine helpers in a loss to Monroe College back on November 9^th. Against Union in her last game, she had just seven points on 2-for-16 shooting. Thomas had eleven points, four rebounds, and four assists, while battling foul trouble in the loss to Lackawanna back in December.  
 
Antonia Polvere is tied for second on the team, averaging 11.3 points per game this year. Polvere is hitting 32.8% from three-point range, the team-leader, and is hitting on 35.4% of her shots from the floor. Polvere averages 3.1 rebounds per game, and 1.5 ssists per contest this season. She's scored in double-figures eleven times this season, going for her season-high 20 points in the opener, an 80-51 win over Monroe Community College. In that game, she hit a season-best eight shots from the field, and shot 57%. Polvere had a 14 points and a season-high seven rebounds in the 81-26 win over Lehigh Carbon back on December 1^st. Polvere has not played since a 67-38 loss to RCSJ-Gloucester back on December 20^th. She had six points and one rebound in the loss to Lackawanna back in December.     
 
Tiana Presley is the other player averaging 11.3 points per game this year. Presley is shooting around 41.5% from the field, and she's averaging a team-high 10.3 rebounds per contest, including nearly four offensive rebounds per game. Presley is also averaging just over an assist per game. Presley has scored in double-figures in 14 games this season, including eight of ten games this spring. She set her season and career-high with 29 points in the win over Lehigh Carbon, going 14-for-19 from the field and pulling down 12 rebounds. Her best game might have been the one before, in a loss to Union, where she scored 23 points and put up a season-best 20 rebounds against the Owls. Presley has nine times gone for double-doubles, and has gone over double-digits in rebounds on 13 times this season. She had nine points and eleven rebounds in the loss to Union on Tuesday. Against Lackawanna, the first time around, she had ten points on 5-for-11 shooting, while posting six rebounds in the loss.
 
Rocío Martín Muñoz is fourth on the team, averaging 8.7 points per game. Muñoz is a 33.6% shooter, hitting around 23% from downtown, and an 80% free throw shooter. She averages 3.7 rebounds per game, and is the team-leader in assists, with 4.7 per game. She has scored in double-figures six times this season, twice going for her season-best 19 points in the spring semester. She had 19 on 7-for-12 shooting in a 73-41 win over the Borough of Manhattan CC on January 21^st, posting her season-high eight rebounds and dishing out five assists. She had 19 a second time against Passaic County in a 56-54 win, going 7-for-17 from the floor, hitting two three-pointers, grabbing five rebounds, and posting three assists. Muñoz had her season-high in assists back in December against Lehigh Carbon, posting nine assists in the win. She had six points and five assists in the loss to Union on Tuesday. Against Lackawanna earlier this season, she had seven points, two rebounds, and four assists.
 
Le'Ana Brown is averaging 7.4 points per game this year. Brown is shooting around 28% this year, and is also shooting around 24% from deep, which is normally where she does the most damage. Brown is averaging four rebounds, fourth on the team, and 2.7 assists per game, third on the squad. Brown has hit double-figures seven times this season, three in her last four games. She posted her season-high in the opener, with 17 points on 7-for-19 shooting in the win over Monroe CC. Brown has hit her season-high of four three-point shots in three separate games, and posted her season-high in rebounds (9) against Manhattan CC. She had a season-best nine assists in a 77-12 win over SUNY Rockland back on December 15^th. She had three points and three rebounds against Union on Tuesday. Against Lackawanna, Brown had eight points and four rebounds in the loss back in December.  
 
Makhia Robinson is averaging 6.6 points per game so far this season. She's shooting 51% from the field, and is second on the team with 8.6 rebounds per game this year. Robinson is tied for second on the team, averaging around a steal per game. She has scored in double-figures three times this year, scoring her season-high of 14 points in the 87-65 win over Bergen back in November, making a season-best seven shots. Robinson also had a double-double that game, going for 14 rebounds in the victory. She set her season-best with 21 rebounds in the win over SUNY Rockland, where she also scored 12 points. Robinson has not played since December 20^th against RCSJ Gloucester. She scored six points and posted nine rebounds in the loss to Lackawanna earlier this season.
 
Alexia Mia Martí is averaging 6.2 points per game this season. She's shooting around 40% from the field, and also averages 4.9 rebounds per contest, third on the team. Martí is tied with Thomas for second on the team in steals (1.0) per contest this year. Martí has scored in double-figures five times so far this season, going for her season-high 17 points in a 70-58 loss to Northampton CC back on January 14^th. She was 7-for-12 from the field, and had six rebounds in the loss. She has twice gone for her season-high of nine rebounds this year. Against Union, Martí had three points and five rebounds in the loss. She was held scoreless in the loss to Lackawanna back in December.  
 
The head coach for Raritan Valley is Philip Herro, in his eighth season at the helm for the Lions. Herro was hired to help transition the program from club to varsity status, and oversaw that transition in the 2015-2016 season. He quickly developed Raritan into a team to be reckoned with in Region XIX, going 22-9 in back-to-back seasons in 2018 and 2019. Herro's teams have made three Region XIX semi-finals, and four Region XIX playoffs overall. Herro is 100-86 in his time at Raritan Valley. 
  
The Match-Up
The game is set for a 5:00pm ET tip-off inside the Lackawanna College Student Union gymnasium, and will be the first game of a doubleheader, with the men's teams set to tip-off immediately following the conclusion. The game is open to the public, with admission sold at the door for students ($3) and adults ($5). Lackawanna College students can gain free entry with a valid student ID. Before the game, there will be a program to celebrate the six sophomores who will be playing their final regular season home games as Falcons. It's also faculty and staff appreciate night at Lackawanna, where we will be celebrating the difference makers in our student-athletes' times at Lackawanna with a special presentation between games.
 
There will be a video livestream available via the Lackawanna College Falcons and Region 19 Sports Networks. You can access the pay-per-view stream via lackawannafalcons.com/LIVE. Steve Young will handle the play-by-play, while Sports Information Director Tom Ferguson will provide color commentary.
 
The next game for the Falcons will be a road game against SUNY Sullivan next Thursday, February 16^th. That game is set for a 6:00pm ET tip-off.