Jan. 27, 2009
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA - La Salle Women's Basketball turned the ball over 23 times and could not keep Rhode Island off the offensive glass - the Rams grabbed 18 o-boards - and the Explorers fell to the visitors, 54-48, in Atlantic 10 Conference action at Tom Gola Arena, Tuesday night.
In a game that featured seven lead changes and the score tied five times, neither team could shake the other until the Explorers rattled off seven straight to open the second half and take a 30-21 advantage.
Ashley Gale scored five of her team-high 15 in the run starting it with one of her three made three-point baskets in the contest and her layup with 16:06 left in the second half capped the run.
Rhode Island (9-11, 2-3 A-10) slowly chipped at its deficit and used a 10-0 run over a three-minute stretch to take a three-point lead (36-33) on a Crystal Bellinger jumper with 10:11 left. She finished the night with 10 points and eight assists.
Jamie Walsh, who scored 10 points, answered back with her first three-point basket of the night, which tied the game for the fifth time, but just under two minutes later the Rams led again, 39-36.
La Salle (10-11, 1-5 A-10) then rattled off eight unanswered points to reclaim the lead, started with a pair of made free throws by Morgan Robertson. She finished the night with seven points and nine rebounds.
Tara Lapetina and Walsh then hit back-to-back three pointers to push the Explorer lead to five at 44-39 with 5:55 left in regulation. La Salle hit nine threes in the game opposed to Rhode Island's one.
However, the Rams did not go away, and over the game's last five minutes, outscored La Salle 13-2 as Sierra Cooper, who tallied a double-double (20 points, 12 rebounds) scored six in the run.
Her basket with 2:11 left gave the Rams a 49-48 lead and Lindsay Harris, who scored four of her 14 in the span, put them up three with a layup with 1:28 left.
Not only did the Rams get those 18 offensive boards, but they also took 10 more free throws in the game (14-4) and made 11 to the Explorers three.
La Salle (10-11, 1-5 A-10) will continue its three-game homestand hosting George Washington on Saturday at 1 PM.
