Box Score Box Score

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Jada Payne led a quartet of players in double figures with 17 points, as the La Salle women's basketball team dropped an 85-74 decision to Florida in the opening game of the Courtyard LaGuardia Turkey Classic at Long Island University on Friday afternoon.
 
Jordan Mosley and Alexis Scott each added 16 points and Brittany Wilson chipped in 15. Florida's Jordan Jones led all scorers with 28 points with 15 of those coming from behind the arc. Three other Gators were also in double figures, including Jennifer George (18), Lanita Bartley (17) and Jaterra Bonds (12). George added 15 rebounds for the double-double.

Ruvanna Campbell pulled down a team-high seven rebounds and added three blocked shots.
 
The Explorers (2-4) got off to a slow start offensively, shooting just 35 percent (7-for-20) through the first two-thirds of the first half as the Gators (4-1) built a 29-15 lead with 7:40 remaining before halftime. Florida's Jordan Jones keyed the Gators to the fast start behind three of her six treys and leading scorer Jennifer George scored eight straight points to finish the half with 12.
 
However, the offense turned on in the last few minutes of the opening stanza, sparked by 10 Payne points and nine from Jordan Mosley as the Explorers pulled within three at the half at 41-38 capped by a Mosley trey. The Explorers finished the half shooting a strong 45.7 percent to outshoot the Gators' 43.9 percent.
 
The Explorer offense continued after the break as the team tied things up with the Gators at 51-all on Wilson free throws. The offense went cold after that and Florida capitalized on La Salle foul trouble to go on a 20-6 run and put the score at 71-57 at the 8:56 mark.

The Explorers responded with an 11-6 spurt capped by an off-balance shot by Mosley as the shot clock expired cut the deficit to 77-68 with 3:52 remaining, but that was the closest the Explorers got down the stretch. Scott scored six straight La Salle points, but the team could not overcome the 3-point sharpshooting as the Gators scored two late treys to seal the game.

The team returns to action tomorrow when the Explorers play host Long Island at 4 p.m. The Blackbirds were winners over Atlantic 10 foe Charlotte in the first game of the Thanksgiving tournament on Friday afternoon.