Feb. 26, 2011
Box Score
AMHERST, MASS. - Freshman Michea Bryant scored five of La Salle’s last seven points to help lead the Explorers over Massachusetts in their regular season finale at the Mullins Center.
With the score locked at 60-all and with both teams on a nearly three-minute scoring drought, Bryant hit a pull up jumper to give the Explorers a 62-60 edge with 1:25 remaining.
On the other end of the court, Jasmine Watson turned the ball over for Massachusetts.
With the shot clock winding down on La Salle’s next possession, Bryant hit a trey to push La Salle’s lead to five with 17 seconds remaining.
Massachusetts’ Megan Zullo got off an off-balance three with four seconds remaining in the game to make the score 65-63.
Massachusetts then fouled to put senior Ashley Gale on the line and she knocked down both free throws to seal the game for La Salle.
“Michea played well down the stretch,” head coach Jeff Willams said. “She came up huge, making good passes and hitting some big shots and made a good defensive play.”
Bryant would finish the contest with 12 points, as would Gale. Sophomore Alexis Scott led the Explorers with 15 points and six assists. Freshman Jess Koci added a team-high 8 rebounds.
With three steals in the contest, Gale broke the La Salle single-season record for steals and now has 91 on the season. She broke Jennifer McGowan’s record of 90 set during the 1992-93 season.
For the Minutewomen, Watson poured in a double-double of 22 points and 14 rebounds.
La Salle shot .429 from the floor, compared to Massachusetts’ .377.
The Explorers turned the ball over a season-low nine times.
La Salle led by as many as seven points in the first half, at the 5:37 mark after a trey by Scott. The team would go into the break up 34-31.
In the second half, Massachusetts worked to tie the game at 43-all with 14:29 remaining. The game remained close with seven lead changes and three ties before Watson knotted up the score at 60-all with a free throw with 4:33 remaining.
La Salle ends the regular season at 6-8 in the A-10.
“I feel pretty good about it,” Williams said. “I thought we let some games get away. We have to get better at winning games on the road and when you’re trying to build a program that’s a part of it, just giving consistent effort.”
The Explorers will head to the Atlantic 10 tournament next week. Action will tip-off on Friday, March 4 and run through March 7. The Explorers have unofficially clinched the #9 seed and will face #8 Saint Joseph’s in a 12:00 p.m. game on Friday.
