Philadelphia, PA - La Salle junior Davineia Payne (Bear, DE/Caravel Academy) had a chance for the win when she drove the length of the court with four ticks left on the clock, but her shot bounced around and came out and the Exoplorers dropped a 47-46 heartbreaker to the George Washington University Colonials.

The Explorers looked to sweep George Washington as they already defeated the top ranked team in the west earlier this season, but fell just short. Payne led all scorers with 15, her fifth double digit performance in a row.

The two teams got off to a slow start and La Salle tooks its first lead of the game at 4-3 with 16:14 on the clock. But, La Salle would go scoreless for the next seven minutes when junior Shaune McLaughlin (Somers Point, NJ/Mainland Regional) made one of two free throws.

The Explorers then finished the half on a 16-6 run and led at the intermission 21-19. La Salle built a four point lead early in the second half, but the Colonials came right back. The lead changed nine different times in the second half and the score was tied five times.

The Explorers were down four, 46-42, with 1:20 left in the game when McLaughlin drove to the basket and connected to bring her team within two points. Payne then grabbed a defensive board and was fouled. She made both ends of the one and one to tie the game with 11 seconds left.

George Washington senior Anna Montananna then brought the ball down the court and was fouled. She made the front end of the one and one to put her team up 47-46 with four seconds left. Payne grabbed the defensive board and drove the length of the court and fired up a shot, but it bounced just off the front of the rim and La Salle fell to the top ranked team in the west division.

La Salle junior Lamera Ferguson (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) and freshman Carlene Hightower (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Prendergast) both netted sevn points a piece. Ferguson led all players in rebounds with 11. Payne pulled down nine boards as La Salle out-rebounded the Colonials 42-28.

McLaughlin and senior Jill Marano (Crofton, MD/Arundel) both finished the game with five points while seniors Monica Garrido-Sanz (Majadahonda, Spain/C.B. Majadahonda) and Meghan Wilkinson (Downingtown, PA/Downingtown) combined for seven points.

La Salle finished the regular season 12-15 overall and 6-10 in the Atlantic 10 conference. The Explorers will enter the tournament as the fourth seed in the west and will play at noon in the first round on Friday, March 4th against either Saint Joseph's or Saint Bonaventure.