Dec. 11, 2010
Box Score
EASTON, Pa. - Nadia Duncan added a game-high 18 points for the Explorers as they fell 60-51 to Lafayette on Saturday afternoon at the Kirby Sports Center.
Two other La Salle players reached double figures with Michea Bryant and Ebonee Jones notching 11 and 10, respectively. Jess Koci added a team-high 10 rebounds.
“We weren’t ready to play today,” head coach Jeff Williams said. “I just have to do a better job of getting them ready. We played a team where you can’t take a day off, but that’s what we did today.”
After trailing 35-26 at the break, La Salle opened the second half on a 6-2 run. Duncan scored the Explorers’ first eight points of the second half, as well as 13 of her 18 points in the second frame.
With less than 12 minutes remaining in the game, Duncan stole the ball from Lafayette’s Melissa Downey and drew a foul while completing a layup on the other end of the court. Duncan sunk the and-1 to cut the Leopards’ lead to two at 45-43.
Duncan fouled out with 9:13 remaining and the Explorers let the lead balloon back up to eight after a 6-2 Lafayette run. The score remained locked at 56-51 in favor of the Leopards for nearly three minutes until Lafayette broke the drought and scored the game’s final four points.
The Explorers played a streaky first half. After getting off to a slow start and falling behind by as many as 10, Duncan tied the game at 23-all and then 25-all with 5:22 remaining in the first frame.
La Salle would then close out the first half without a field goal, getting just one point on a free throw by Koci.
Ashley Gale added two blocks in the game and, with 47 for her career, ties Mary Greybush (1987-91) for the tenth most all-time in La Salle history.
La Salle collected 10 offensive rebounds, making it the seventh consecutive game the team posted double-digit rebounds on the offensive glass. This is the longest such streak since November 19-29, 2008 when the Explorers had five straight games with double figures on the offensive glass.
Three Leopards hit double figures, with Lauren Jackson leading the way with 17 points. As a team, Lafayette tallied 58 rebounds in the game, 20 of them offensive boards.
The Explorers will next return home to the Tom Gola Arena to face Rider on December 19 at 2:00 p.m.
