Jan. 29, 2011

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PHILADELPHIA - Senior Ashley Gale banked in a three-pointer with 2:30 remaining against George Washington to give the Explorers the lead for good as they defeated the Colonials, 73-64, in Atlantic-10 play on Saturday evening at Tom Gola Arena.

Gale notched a game-high 26 points and went 5-for-9 from beyond the arc.  Now with 184 career three-point attempts, the senior is the all-time single-season leader in that category at La Salle.

Senior Chelsea Conner added 14 points, one shy of her career high, while freshman Jess Koci contributed a game-high tying 12 rebounds.

“I am pleased with the team effort tonight and can’t ask for more than that,” head coach Jeff Williams said. “The Dayton game [an 85-51 loss] woke us up and told us we had to compete better as a team.”

A three point shot by sophomore Ebonee Jones gave the Explorers a 53-47 lead with 11:44 to play in the game.  George Washington went on a 14-4 run over the next seven minutes to gain a 61-57 advantage.

Conner hit a layup then Gale connected from distance to give La Salle the 62-61 edge that it wouldn’t surrender.

Conner fouled GW’s Ivy Abinoa, but she missed both shots from the charity stripe and Nadia Duncan corralled the rebound after the last shot.  Koci was fouled hard on the other end of the court and sunk both her free throws to give La Salle a 64-61 advantage with 1:41 remaining.

Freshman Michea Bryant made six-of-eight foul shots and Duncan and Koci each hit one in the last minute and a half of play to seal the victory for the Explorers.

The game was up tempo and physical from the beginning.  The Colonials jumped out to a seven point lead five minutes into the contest and held onto the lead until nearly the last two minutes of play in the half.

Jones tied the game at 27-all with a trey with 1:46 left in the first.  The sophomore began a 7-2 run for the Explorers to close out the half, and gave La Salle a 32-29 halftime edge.

For the Colonials, Tiana Myers notched a double-double of 23 points and 12 rebounds.  Danni Jackson and Sara Mostafa posted 13 and 11 points, respectively.

The Explorers shot .500 from beyond the arc, hitting 11 treys, which is two-shy of the school record and the second time this season they have made 11.

La Salle pulled down 44 rebounds to George Washington’s 40.

Gale’s four blocks in the contest gave her 60 for her career and moved into eighth all-time in that category.  She surpassed Dolores Seiberlich (1989-93) who registered 59 career blocks.

Gale also posted four steals to put her at 168 for her career and into the ninth spot all-time in La Salle program history.

La Salle will next travel to Cincinnati, OH to face #7 Xavier on Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m.