PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle University Women's Basketball team trailed by one with 18 seconds left in the game. However, junior Carlene Hightower (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Prendergast) stole an inbounds pass and fed senior Crista Ricketts (Douglasville, PA/Daniel Boone), who scored the go-ahead basket. Three made foul shots later and the Explorers recorded the 64-60 come-from-behind victory over Miami (OH), Wednesday afternoon in non-conference action at Tom Gola Arena.

 

It was fitting that the back-and-forth game - there were 14 lead changes and the score was tied six times - would come down to one of the last possessions of the game, which the Explorers had, down one (60-59) with 45 seconds remaining in the game.

 

La Salle got the ball into Ricketts, who turned in the paint, but missed the shot. The RedHawks controlled the rebound and called timeout with 22 seconds left. La Salle tried for a steal on the inbounds pass, failed, and then fouled, taking all of four seconds. But that was only the Explorers' sixth team foul, so they had another chance.

 

This time, the inbounds pass was bobbled and Hightower took control of the ball on the left wing, quickly turned towards the basket and saw a wide-open Ricketts. She took the pass, shot and was fouled. Ricketts converted the free throw for her game-high 21st point and the Explorers led 62-60 with 15 seconds left.

 

The RedHawks (5-7) then had the chance to go for the tie or win and got the ball into Jenna Schone's hands. The 5-7 sophomore guard already had team-highs with 16 points, five assists, and four steals, but her driving lay-up with six seconds left missed its target and the rebound deflected out of bounds off a RedHawk teammate.

 

Sophomore Tara Lapetina (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Carroll) took the inbounds pass, was fouled, and then converted two free throws with three seconds left to seal the Explorers victory.

 

In the win, Hightower scored 19 points, and had career-highs with six steals and five assists, while also grabbing seven rebounds. The game-high for rebounds though went to senior Jenna Graber (Clarkesburg, NJ/Peddie School), who had a career-high nine to go with six points and two steals.

 

Ricketts, who registered her sixth game of at least 20 points this season and 24th of her career, also grabbed five rebounds and had three assists. Junior Melanie Gibbons (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) chipped in six points and four boards, while classmate Meghan Ahl (Bronx, NY/Preston) was a huge lift off the bench. She played a career-high 21 minutes, with three points, three boards, and two assists.