SLIAC Game of the Week: Iowa Wesleyan at Fontbonne
Posted: Jan 08, 2019

SLIAC Game of the Week: Iowa Wesleyan at Fontbonne

 

At a Glance

This week we return for the first full week of conference play and our SLIAC Game of the Week is between the Iowa Wesleyan University and Fontbonne University women's basketball teams. Both teams begin the week with a 2-3 SLIAC record, tied for 5th place in the standings. The game of the week will take place on Saturday, January 12th at 1 p.m. on the campus of Fontbonne University in St. Louis, Mo.

       
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Fontbonne University 'GRIFFINS'

Fontbonne is currently 5-8 overall and most recently defeated Blackburn on Saturday to snap a two-game losing streak. The Griffins will host Eureka on Wednesday before hosting Iowa Wesleyan on Saturday. Fontbonne has notched back-to-back wins just once this season, coming in early December. 

Fontbonne ranks 5th in the conference in scoring (69.3 ppg) and are second in three-point field goals made per game (8.1). Much of their offense stems from sophomore guard Rylee Stafford. Stafford is averaging 15.2 points per game while knocking down 25 triples this season. Junior forward Raven Venegas is averaging 11.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while shooting 54-percent from the field. Seniors Paige Black (9.0 ppg) and Sarah Schraut (8.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg) are the only two seniors on the team.
        

Iowa Wesleyan University 'TIGERS'

Iowa Wesleyan brings a 3-8 overall record into the start of the week, along with a two-game winning streak. The Tigers put together their first winning streak of the season by defeating Blackburn and MacMurray. They will be at Greenville on Wednesday before continuing their three-game road trip on Saturday at Fontbonne. 

The Tigers are averaging 54.2 points per game but have upped that in conference play to 61.0 points per game. They led the SLIAC with a .727 team free-throw percentage. The Massner sisters pace the Tigers offensive attack. Senior Darby Massner is averaging 17.1 points and 11.1 rebounds per game while sister Allie is averaging 12.7 points per game with a team-leading 23 made three-pointers. The rest of the team consists of just two juniors and seven freshmen. 
 

Last Meeting
 Fontbonne swept the regular season series last year, winning 56-54 at Iowa Wesleyan and then taking the win 67-53 in St. Louis. Paige Black had a high of 20 points in the second game of the series while Allie Massner led the Tigers with 16 points.

Game Notes

  • Iowa Wesleyan leads the all-time series against Fontbonne 7-3 although Fontbonne has won two in a row. 
  • Saturday's game features two of the top scorers in the league in Fontbonne's Rylee Stafford (197 total points) and Iowa Wesleyan's Darby Massner (188 total points). 
  • Stafford has scored in double figures in 10 games this season including nine in a row and has topped 20 points five times including a high of 30 points.
  • Massner had a career night last week against Blackburn, finishing with 33 points and 20 rebounds.