Women’s basketball: Dayton’s two leading scorers will return for sixth years

“(Five) years wasn’t enough,” she wrote on Instagram and Twitter. “Let’s make it 6. Blessed to announce I’ll be taking advantage of the NCAA Covid year and returning to Flyer Nation.”

Erin Whalen, a 6-1 guard/forward who started her career with two seasons at Vanderbilt, made the same announcement Thursday, writing, “Thanks (NCAA) for an excuse to not enter the real world. See ya next year.”

Whalen led Dayton with 13.6 points per game. Giacone averaged 12.4. The NCAA’s decision to not count the 2020-21 season against anyone’s eligibility gave seniors like them — both of whom were in their fifth years in college — the option of returning next season while not counting against the 13-scholarship limit.

Dayton finished 14-5 last season and 12-1 in the Atlantic 10 Conference, winning the regular-season championship.