Feb. 14, 2009
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA - Morgan Robertson scored a game and career-high 26 points - including a lay-up with six seconds left in regulation to force overtime. However, Charlotte prevailed in the extra session, 67-62, to hand La Salle Women's Basketball another heartbreaking Atlantic 10 Conference defeat, Saturday at Tom Gola Arena.
In what has become a common theme for the Explorers this conference season, the team battled back from a deficit in the second half - as much as 10 with 16:29 to go - but come up just short when the contest was over.
Trailing 38-28, La Salle used an 8-3 run to get to within five (41-36) after Robertson scored on a lay-up. But five points was the hump that the Explorers seemed like they would not get over.
Charlotte (18-6, 9-1 A-10) went back up eight before Ashley Gale hit a three and it was seven (46-39) after Aysha Jones scored two of her 19 points with a jumper.
La Salle rattled off the next four points - an Antonia Gale elbow jumper and a Robertson baseline shot - pulled the Explorers to within three with 8:16 left in the game.
The 49ers answered with four of their own, the second basket by Danielle Burgin, who had 20 points, nine boards in the contest.
However, the Explorers hung around and down six (54-48) with under four minutes to play, made their last run. Robertson scored on back-to-back trips down the floor and then Tara Lapetina went to the line with 1:28 left with a chance to tie.
She made both knotting the game at 54-all and both teams came up empty on their next two possessions - which included a Jenna Gilbert three with 47 ticks that rimmed out.
Burgin put Charlotte up with a layup with 23 seconds left and Robertson tied it to force overtime.
The Explorers made the comeback, thanks in part to 50.0% shooting from the floor in the second half (12-24). Also, for the game, La Salle turned the ball over a season-low tying eight times - however four times in overtime - and registered a season-high 21 assists.
Other notable statistics in the contest included Charlotte scoring just two points off of turnovers to La Salle's eight, and the Explorers 12-7 advantage in second-chance points.
Jamie Walsh gave La Salle a three-point lead (59-56) at the 2:54 mark of the extra session, but seven straight 49er points had them ahead 63-59 with 1:53 left.
Margaret Elderton hit a three to make it a one-point game before Burgin pushed their advantage back to three. With 10 seconds left, La Salle fouled Erin Floyd - who had a chance to seal the game - but missed the front end of a one-and-one.
And again, La Salle had a chance to tie the game up but this time the shot missed and made free throws on the other end sealed the Charlotte win.
La Salle (10-15, 1-9 A-10) will head to Ohio for its next two games - at Xavier, Wednesday at 12 PM, and at Dayton, Saturday at 2 PM.
