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PHILADELPHIA - Nikki Oakland sank two free throws with 3.3 seconds to play, giving Dayton a 45-43 victory over the La Salle University women's basketball team on Wednesday evening at Tom Gola Arena. Carlene Hightower and Margaret Elderton each tied for game-high honors with 11 points for the Explorers.
La Salle, looking to snap Dayton's 15-game winning streak, got off to a good start both offensively and defensively. Freshman Ashley Gale, seeing her first action since December 16th at Boston College, nailed her first attempt from the field, a three-point bank shot to give the home team a 9-4 lead.
Meanwhile, the Explorer defense kept the high-powered offense of the Flyers in check. Dayton came into tonight's game averaging 71.5 points per game, tops in the Atlantic 10, but was held to just 20 points in the opening period and a season-low 45 for the game.
After trailing by two at halftime, the Explorers scored the first six points of the second half to take a 24-20 advantage. The lead grew to as big as eight when Hightower converted a three-point play with 9:21 left.
La Salle then went into an offensive drought, going scoreless over the next 6:08 and missing six consecutive shots. The Flyers would slowly chip away, coming to within two at 38-36. A Jamie Walsh three-pointer would eventually end the drought and make the score 41-36 in favor of the Explorers with 3:12 left.
Dayton then reeled off seven-straight to take its first lead since early in the second half, going up 43-41 with 1:41 to play. Elderton responded with a jumper at the 1:15 mark to tie the score once again.
Walsh looked to give the Explorers the lead with under a minute left, but her baseline jumper hit off the iron and Dayton grabbed the board.
With time winding down, Karah Cloxton's shot in the lane was off, but Oakland grabbed the offensive rebound and was fouled in the process. The senior forward sank both free throws, giving Dayton the lead with 3.3 second to play. A last-ditch effort came up short for the Explorers, as Elderton's desperation shot was off.
Walsh chipped in with nine points and four assists for La Salle, who fell to 8-9 overall and 0-2 in the A-10.
Cloxton paced the Flyers with 11 points, while Oakland recorded a double-double with 10 points and 12 boards. The Flyers (16-2, 2-0 A-10) are tied with Connecticut for the nation's longest winning streak, now at 16 games.
The Explorers will hit the road for a Saturday afternoon contest in the Bronx against Fordham. Tip off is slated for 4:30 PM.
