Nov. 29, 2008
Box Score
MORAGA, CA - Morgan Robertson notched her fourth double-double of the season and led three Explorers with at least 16 points as La Salle Women's Basketball defeated Radford, 65-52, in the consolation game of the Hilton Concord Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday evening.
Robertson scored a game-high 18 points and pulled down a career-high 19 rebounds - three shy of the La Salle single-game record. Ashley Gale and Jamie Walsh were also in double figures for the second straight game, each adding 16 points.
Early in the game, the teams traded baskets and the lead before the Explorers went on a 7-0 run capped by Tara Lapetina's three pointer, which gave La Salle a 14-9 advantage.
Radford (0-5) kept the game close, answering each La Salle basket with one of its own but four quick points by the Explorers - a Gale lay-up and a Nadia Duncan short jumper - gave them their biggest lead of the first at six, 27-21, with under four minutes left in the half.
The Highlanders responded with their own 7-0 run over the next two minutes and when Charron Leeper scored on a lay-up, they took a 28-27 lead with 1:29 left before the break.
After trading a made free throw on each end of the court, Jenna Gilbert knocked down a 16-footer to give La Salle a 30-29 lead heading into the locker rooms.
The Explorers slowly built their lead in the second half and after Lapetina knocked down her second three of the night, they led 43-36 with 12:46 left in the game.
However, Radford had one more run in them. They held La Salle scoreless for three minutes and tied the game on a Leeper jumper with 9:34 remaining.
After the teams again traded baskets, the Explorers used an 11-0 run to take command of the contest.
Robertson scored inside, Walsh knocked down her third three of the game, Gale added a jumper, and Robertson scored back-to-back baskets to give La Salle an 11 edge with 4:08 to go and the Highlanders would not get any closer than eight the rest of the way.
Walsh added four assists and three steals to her totals, while Antonia Gale and Lapetina also had four assists, and Lapetina added eight points and Gale four boards.
In the Championship Game of the classic, Indiana defeated host St. Mary's (CA), 80-63, for the title. The Hoosiers' Amber Jackson was named the MVP, while Robertson was named to the All-Tournament team along with Indiana teammates Whitney Thomas and Jori Davis, and the Gaels' Louella Tomlinson.
La Salle (4-3) will return home from the West Coast Sunday afternoon, but will head back out on the road for a contest at Morgan State on Wednesday at 7 PM.
