1/21/25
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – Lackawanna College women's basketball has won six straight games, but now steps up to its biggest challenge of the season, when the Falcons travel to take on #4 Union College on Tuesday, January 21^st, in a key Region XIX Division II contest.
 
Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00pm ET inside the cozy Union College gymnasium in Cranford, NJ. It's the first game of a doubleheader, with the Union men's team hosting Salem CC afterwards at 7:00pm ET. There is a video livestream available via the Union Owls Athletics YouTube channel, linked HERE.
 
This is the second game of the year between Union College and Lackawanna. Previously, Union came to Scranton back on November 26^th, bludgeoning the Falcons for the 97-48 win. The Owls shot 41.8% from the floor and had 43 points off turnovers, forcing 36 giveaways from Lackawanna College. You can read the full recap HERE.
 
About Lackawanna College
The Falcons (12-4, 8-2) are currently in second place in the Region XIX Division II standings, slightly ahead of third-place Harcum College, which is 7-2. Lackawanna earned its eighth region victory this past weekend with an 83-62 victory over Delaware Tech CC at home. The Falcons broke open the contest with a key run at the end of the third quarter, outscoring the visitors by a 19-4 margin to close out the frame and running away with the victory. The Falcons had four players score in double-figures and shot 35% from the floor. You can read the full recap HERE.
 
This season, the Falcons are averaging 72.4 points per game, while giving up 68.6 points per game against. Lackawanna is shooting 34.7% from the floor this season, while hitting 23% from three-point range. The Falcons have struggled from the free throw line, but they have gotten better as the season wears on, hitting 59.9% of their attempts. Lackawanna's opponents are shooting 36% from the floor and have hit 29% of their three-point shots. Lackawanna has a +4.9 rebounding margin, averaging 48.9 boards per game. The Falcons are averaging 20.6 turnovers per game, while forcing 20.1 per game this year. Lackawanna averages 12 steals per contest, while its opponents average 10.6 swipes per game. Lackawanna is averaging 4.3 blocks per game.
 
Sophomore forward Salote Franklin (Philadelphia, PA) leads the team with 17.3 points per game this season, sixth in the region and third in DII. Salote is shooting 45% from the floor and averages a team-high 12.1 rebounds per game, first in DII. Franklin is a 70% free throw shooter, first on the team, and has hit nine three-pointers this season. She also has 35 steals, second on the team, and leads the Falcons with 26 blocks this year. Salote had 30 points in the season-opening victory against CCBC Catonsville back on November 1^st, shooting 13-for-21 from the floor, while pulling down eight rebounds. She set a season-high for rebounds with 23 boards and 28 points in the win against Salem back on December 14^th. Salote was 15-for-16 from the free throw line in the contest, going 8-for-8 in the fourth quarter alone, to help secure the win. Salote has scored double-figures in 15 games this year and has eleven double-doubles on the year, including in her last five games. She set a season-high with eight assists in the win against Essex on November 19^th, where she also had 14 points and ten boards. Franklin had 15 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, and a season-high five steals in the win against Delaware Tech on November 23^rd. In her last five games, Franklin is averaging 19.4 points per game and 17 rebounds per contest. She had 17 points and 13 rebounds, along with three blocks and three assists, in the win against Delaware Tech on Saturday. Against Union, she had 13 points and six rebounds in the loss.
 
Sophomore guard Desiree White (Carlisle, PA) is second on the team with 13 points per game through her eleven appearances, missing five games due to injury earlier this year. White has hit 18 three-point shots, first on the team, and is shooting 32% from the floor. White averages three rebounds a game and has ten steals. Desi has hit double-figures six times this year, scoring her season-high against Herkimer on January 11^th, posting 28 points on a season-best ten makes. She hit three three-pointers, made five free throws, and had a pair of assists and a pair of rebounds in the win against Herkimer. Against Catonsville, she had 13 points and four boards. She had 20 points against Mercer on December 10^th, hitting seven shots and knocking down three three-point shots. Her previous season-high was 26 points on 8-for-18 shooting and a season-high four made three-pointers in the loss to Montgomery on November 12^th. Desi had 12 points and three steals in the win against Delaware Tech on Saturday. She had four points in just seven minutes against Union back in November. White led the team last season, averaging 16.9 points per game and hitting a team-high 40 three-pointers.
 
Sophomore guard Jayla South (Long Pond, PA) is third on the team with 12.7 points per game this season. South is shooting 33.5% and has made 15 three-point shots, second on the team this season. She averages 6.5 rebounds per game, fourth on the team, and has 38 assists, fourth on the squad, along with 32 steals so far this season. South has scored double-figures in 12 games this season, scoring her season and career-high with 42 points against Essex on November 19^th, making 15 shots and hitting six three-pointers in the win. She also had eight rebounds and season-highs in assists (7) and steals (5). Jayla set a season-high for rebounds with eleven boards and 12 points in the loss to Montgomery back on November 12^th. She matched that season-high in rebounds with eleven, along with seven points and four assists, in the win against Herkimer. Jayla had ten points and a pair of boards in the loss to Union back in November. She had eight points and three rebounds in 15 minutes against Delaware Tech on Saturday.
 
First-year guard Ania Crocker (Freeport, NY) is averaging 11.1 points per game this season and is shooting 35% from the floor. Crocker averages 5.3 rebounds per game and has 43 assists, first on the team. She is also first on the team with 38 steals. Crocker scored her season-high against Jamestown on November 16^th, exploding for 28 points and a season-best 13 rebounds in the win. Crocker went 13-for-23 from the floor in the win. She set a season-high with seven steals against Richard Bland College on November 2^nd, where she also set her season-high with five assists. Crocker matched that season-high with five assists against Essex on November 19^th, scoring 26 points, grabbing five rebounds, and posting four steals in the win. Crocker has eight games in double-digit points this season. She scored 12 points and had five rebounds against Delaware Tech on Saturday. Against Union, she was held to three points and had five rebounds in the loss to the Owls.
 
Sophomore forward Saraiah Franklin (Philadelphia, PA) is averaging 8.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game through her 16 appearances. Franklin is shooting 38% from the floor and has 39 assists on the year, tied with her sister Salote for second on the team. Saraiah had one of her best games of the year against Essex in November, scoring 14 points and setting a season-high in assists (5), along with matching her season-high in steals (3) and grabbing 12 rebounds. Against Harcum on November 21^st, she had a season-best 23 points, scoring 13 in the fourth alone, while going 8-for-9 from the free throw line and pulling down eleven rebounds. Saraiah set her season-high in rebounds with 16 boards against Herkimer, where she also put up 13 points and had four assists in the win. Saraiah has three double-doubles on the season and has hit double-figures in scoring in six games this season. She had just three points and three rebounds in the loss to Union in November. Franklin had four points and ten rebounds against Del Tech on Saturday.
 
Sophomore forward E'ternity Aiken (Wilkes-Barre, PA) is averaging 5.8 points per game through her ten contests this year. Aiken missed six games due to injury this season. She is shooting 39.1% from the floor and averages 6.6 rebounds per game, third on the team. She also has 14 steals. Aiken had 15 points and eleven boards in the win against Richard Bland College, her lone double-double of the season. She also had four steals and a pair of assists. She tied her season-high with eleven rebounds against Middlesex, along with eight points, two blocks, and two assists. Aiken scored four points, had seven rebounds, and dished out three assists against Mercer. Aiken had four points and seven rebounds in the win against Delaware Tech on Saturday. Against Union in November, she had three points and five rebounds in the loss.
 
Head coach Monica Spence is in her third season at the helm of the Falcons. Spence spent a year as an assistant before taking over the program in 2022. Before her time at Lackawanna, Spence spent time coaching at youth levels and in semi-professional men's basketball. Spence is a Wilkes-Barre native, who played her high school basketball locally at Wilkes-Barre GAR. Spence is 33-29 in her time as the head coach for the Falcons.
 
About Union College (NJ)
The #4 Owls (18-0, 10-0) have been absolutely dominant, beating their opponents by an average of 46 points per game. The closest margins for the Owls this season have been a pair of 13-point wins over Harcum and Monroe. Both games weren't as close as the final scores indicated, with the Owls cruising into the fourth quarter with large leads in both contests. Union has topped 100 points in four straight Region XIX DII games. The Owls beat CCBC Catonsville at home in their last game on Saturday, January 18^th, outscoring the Cardinals by 47-25 in the first half on their way to a 96-38 victory. Union shot 42.9% from the floor, had 20 offensive rebounds and had 24 steals in the win.
 
Union is averaging 95.8 points per game this season, shooting 44.3% from the floor and hitting 26.6% from downtown. The Owls are giving up a stout 49.6 points per game this year, allowing opponents to shoot 33.6% from the floor and hitting 22.7% from three-point range. Union is outrebounding its opponents by a staggering +23.2 margin, tops in all of NJCAA Division II, averaging 52.9 rebounds per game this year, which includes 22.9 offensive boards per game. Union's opponents are averaging 25 turnovers per game, while the Owls are averaging 22.2 steals per contest.
 
Sophomore Destiny Bynum Johnson leads the team at 18.9 points per game this year, fourth in all of Region XIX and second in Region XIX DII. Johnson is shooting 43.1% from the floor and hitting 27.3% from deep. Bynum Johnson is second on the team at 7.6 rebounds per game and is third on the team with 3.6 assists per game. She's first on the squad with 4.7 steals per contest, second in all of Region XIX. She's scored in double-figures in 17 of 18 games this season, which includes a season-high 33 points on the road at Essex County College on November 7^th, hitting a season-best 13 shots and knocking down four three-point shots. She has five double-doubles on the year, putting up her season-high 12 rebounds against Richard Bland College on November 1^st. Johnson had one of her best games of the season against Lackawanna back on November 26^th, narrowly missing a quadruple-double with 21 points and eight rebounds, plus season-highs in assists (9) and steals (9). She had 18 points and five rebounds in the victory against Catonsville this past weekend.
 
First-year forward Hellary De Los Santos is averaging 16.4 points per game, second on the team and fourth in Region XIX DII. She's shooting 59.6% from the floor and hitting 75.7% from the free throw line. De Los Santos averages 10.9 rebounds per game, by far the team-high and third in Region XIX DII. De Los Santos also averages 1.8 steals per game and 1.6 assists per contest. De Los Santos has 14 games in double-figures this season, putting up a season-high 34 points on 14-for-20 shooting in the win against Bryant & Stratton (VA) back on December 14^th. She posted 13 rebounds in the victory. She has eleven double-doubles this season, and her season-high in rebounds came against Harcum on November 9^th with 17 boards. She also set her season-best with five steals against the Bears. De Los Santos had 15 points and nine rebounds in the win against Lackawanna back in November. She scored 21 points and pulled down nine boards against Catonsville this past weekend.
 
First-year forward Saran Camara is third on the team at 10.8 points per game this year, shooting 50% from the floor and hitting a team-best 88.9% from the free throw line. Camara averages 2.6 rebounds per game and is averaging 2.8 steals per game, third on the team. Camara has seven double-digit scoring games this season, scoring her season-best 25 points in the win against Salem CC back on December 3^rd, going 11-for-16 from the floor and making three three-point shots in the victory, while also setting her season-high with six rebounds. She had 12 points and a season-high six steals in the win against Essex on November 7^th. Camara scored 14 points and had three steals in the win against Lackawanna back in November. She has missed six of the last seven games for the Owls, and has not played since the win against Howard CC back on January 4^th.
 
Sophomore guard Ore Ogunwolere is averaging 9.1 points per game this season, shooting 46.36 from the floor and hitting 63.5% from the free throw line. Ogunwolere leads the squad with 5.1 assists per game, sixth in all of Region XIX. She also averages 4.3 steals per game, second on the team this season. Ogunwolere has scored in double-digits eight times this season, including her season-high 16 points in the win against Mercer County CC back on January 14^th. Ogunwolere went 8-for-8 from the free throw line in the win, while posting six assists, five steals, and five rebounds. Ogunwolere had six points, five rebounds, and a season-best eight assists against Chesapeake College on December 9^th, and she set a season-high with ten steals to secure a double-double against Mercer County CC on November 19^th. Ogunwolere had nine points, four rebounds, and three assists in the win against Lackawanna back in November. She had 14 points, a season-high eight rebounds, nine steals, and seven assists in the win against Catonsville this past weekend.
 
The head coach is Marbely Montas, now in her eighth season as the head coach of the Owls. Montas is a Union College legend on the women's basketball side, starting her career at Union as a player in 2005. Montas was named All-America, then moved on to Monmouth University on a full ride. After her time at Monmouth, she joined the Dominican Republic National Team, helping lead the DR to a Centro Americanos competition silver medal. She also became the second-leading scorer in DR history. She returned to New Jersey to pursue a master's in Business Administration from Kean University, and joined the Union staff as an assistant in 2011, helping the Owls to six Region tournament appearances and a pair of Region XIX championships, with the latter in 2015 culminating in the program's first appearance in the NJCAA DII Women's Basketball tournament. Since taking over in 2017, Montas has gone 185-43, with six Region XIX championships, six NJCAA DII tournament appearances, and two championship game appearances in her first two seasons ('17-'18, '18-'19). Montas also serves as the Union College Director of Athletics.
 
The Matchup
Again, this is the second match-up between Union and Lackawanna, with the Owls winning in Scranton earlier this year, 97-48. In the current Region XIX DII standings, Lackawanna is second at 8-2, two games behind undefeated Union in first. A win for the Falcons will help them stay in front of Harcum, which plays at Raritan Valley on Tuesday, while also handing Union its first setback of the season. A win for Union keeps the Owls well in front of the field in Region XIX and keeps the unbeaten run going, more-or-less sealing the #1 seed in the Region XIX DII playoffs at the end of February. It also could push the Falcons behind Harcum in the standings, sliding into third place.
 
Tuesday's game is scheduled for a tip-off at 5:00pm ET inside the cozy Union College gymnasium in Cranford, NJ. It's the first game of a doubleheader, with the Union men's team hosting Salem CC afterwards at 7:00pm ET. There is a video livestream available via the Union Owls Athletics YouTube channel, linked HERE.
 
Lackawanna remains on the road for the week, when the Falcons travel to Middletown, NY to take on the SUNY Orange Colts in non-region action. Tip-off for that game is set for 5:00pm ET on Rickard Court inside the Schmid gymnasium. The game is the first of a doubleheader, with the men's teams scheduled to face off afterwards at 7:00pm ET.