Feb. 12, 2011

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - The Explorers played one of the Atlantic 10's top teams tough, but ultimately fell, 72-63, to Temple in a Big 5 and Atlantic 10 contest on Saturday afternoon on the campus of Temple University.

Temple improves to 10-0 in conference play, while the Explorers fall to 4-6.

La Salle was within four at 67-63 with 1:39 remaining in the game after going on a 6-0 run propelled by two layups by senior Ashley Gale and another by freshman Michea Bryant.

An Explorer foul put Temple's Shey Peddy on the line and she sunk both free throws to give the Owls a six-point advantage.  Peddy stole the ball from Gale on La Salle's next possession and Qwedia Wallace converted it to a trey for the final points of the contest.

Gale finished with 22 points on eight-for-16 shooting from the field. Freshman Jess Koci notched 12 points and added seven rebounds.  Junior Nadia Duncan had a team-high eight rebounds.

For Temple, Kristen McCarthy posted 22 points and was one of four Owls in double figures.

"It was a tremendous effort by our team today," head coach Jeff Williams said. "The girls played very hard and I'm excited about the effort out on the court. I hope to continue the success and translate it to a win against Charlotte on Wednesday."

The Owls scored the game's first nine points, what proved to be the difference in the game, before Bryant put La Salle on the board four and a half minutes into the contest.

"I told the team we spotted them nine points right there," Williams said. "We came out a little tight to start the game."

The Explorers continued to play a few points behind the Owls in what was a physical contest.

Sophomore Alexis Scott cut the score to 21-17 with a long jumper and then a shot from the corner with 5:17 remaining in the first half.

Gale tied the score at 24 all with a jumper with three minutes remaining in the first half.  A Bryant layup gave the Explorers a brief two-point lead at 26-24 before Peddy tied the contest back up with a layup of her own.

A jumper by Koci at the buzzer sent the Explorers into the break with a 31-30 lead.

La Salle continued its tough play in the second half, gaining a 38-32 advantage after a trey by Gale almost two and a half minutes into the half.  Gale picked up her fourth foul of the game with 16:07 to play and sat out for the next five minutes.

The Owls chipped away at the lead with McCarthy tying the score for the Owls at 41-all with a jumper with 14:40 left to play.   Temple went on a 9-2 run to give the Owls a seven point advantage with 11:24 to play.

La Salle cut the lead to six with 5:35 to go after sophomore Ebonee Jones completed a pair of free throws.

The Explorers shot .397 from the floor, compared to Temple's .388 clip.

La Salle will return home to face Charlotte on Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m. The contest will be the Explorers' Pink Zone Initiative game.