Dec. 21, 2008
Box Score
Photo Gallery
PHILADELPHIA - La Salle Women's Basketball won its third straight game Sunday afternoon behind a season-high 19 points from Margaret Elderton, while Morgan Robertson chipped in 15 points, seven boards in the 63-47 victory over Rider at Tom Gola Arena.
Elderton, who scored 14 of her game-high in the first half, went 7-for-11 from the field, including three shots from beyond the arc, and added three assists. Robertson also collected a career-high tying four steals to add to her totals.
Rider (2-7) controlled the game early, taking a four-point lead six minutes into the game. However Robertson scored back-to-back baskets and Antonia Gale hit a free throw to put La Salle up 9-8.
The Broncs responded with an 8-1 run to take their largest lead of the afternoon at 16-11 with 7:37 left in the first half. They hit six of their first nine shots and to that point, were 8-of-15 from the floor.
A 10-0 run highlighted by back-to-back three-pointers from Elderton, turned the five-point deficit into a five-point advantage with 2:46 left before intermission.
Rider's Amanda Sepulveda turned a steal into a fast-break lay-up 50 seconds later to make it a three-point game, but again Elderton hit back-to-back buckets including one just before the half to put La Salle up 25-18.
The Explorers held Rider to just one basket on 1-of-7 shooting from the floor and forced them into five turnovers to take command of the contest, and the Broncs would get no closer than seven in the second half.
Out of the locker room, La Salle used a 7-2 run to open a 12-point lead with Jenna Gilbert scoring five in the run - including an offensive put back. She scored seven in the game - all in the second half - and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds.
The Broncs kept the game within range and had their deficit down to seven - 45-38 - after Tammy Meyers turned another steal into a fast break lay-up and it was eight with 6:54 left in regulation.
The Explorers then put the game away with an 11-2 run ignited by an Ashley Gale three-pointer. Chelsea Conner capped off the run with a baseline jumper with 1:03 left in the game, putting La Salle up 59-42.
Tara Lapetina, who scored seven points in the game with three assists and three rebounds, converted four straight free throws to close out the game. Jamie Walsh had a game-high five assists, while Ashley Gale had eight points, five boards, and two steals.
The Explorers, who are now 7-0 all-time versus the Broncs, forced Rider into 22 turnovers, while registering 11 steals - the most since last December 31 - at UW-Milwaukee. They also hit seven threes opposed to the Broncs one - which they hit with 52 seconds left in the contest.
La Salle (7-5) will be off for a week before returning to action at Lehigh's Christmas City Classic on Dec. 29-30. The Explorers open the tournament against Valparaiso starting at 5 PM.
