Box Score

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - After trailing the entire game, freshman Ruvanna Campbell converted a 3-point play with 27 seconds remaining to put La Salle ahead 53-52 and the Explorers held on for the Atlantic 10 opening win over Saint Louis at Chaifetz Arena on Saturday evening. The victory marks the fourth straight for the Explorers, who are now 7-9 overall and 1-0 in the conference.

The Billikens fall to 6-10 (0-1 Atlantic 10).

Campbell scored eight points and pulled down 14 rebounds, the fourth time in the last five games that she snagged double-digit rebounds. With two more blocks tonight for a total of 30, she moved into eighth on the all-time single season blocks list. She needs one to move into a tie for seventh place, held by Tracey Sneed (1987-88), and 18 more to crack the top 10 for blocks in a career.

Nadia Duncan led the Explorers with 13 points on 6-for-8 shooting and Brittany Wilson added 12.

The Billikens' Mallory Eggert led all scorers with 14, and Lorreal Jones recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 boards.

After spotting the Billikens a 9-0 lead through the first media timeout at 15:44, the Explorers scored five straight to cut the lead to four. That remained the story of the game as the home squad never led by more than eight. The final 8-point lead came at the 18:27 mark of the second half with Saint Louis leading 29-21.

The Explorers chipped away at those eight points, but could not overcome a 2-point barrier. They came within two on seven different occasions before coming within one on a Wilson trey with 2:33 remaining to put the score at 50-49. Two Janisha Gearlds free throws pushed the Billiken lead back to three at 52-49 with 1:36 left.

Duncan made the first of two free throws to get back to the two-point deficit with just over a minute left. Courtney Webb missed a three for the Billikens, which was picked up by Wilson. Wilson fed Campbell the ball, who rolled in a layup to tie the score and was fouled on the play with 27 seconds left. She converted the free throw to give the Explorers their first and only lead of the game.

The Billikens were never able to get off another shot, as the Explorer defense clamped down and forced the ball outside with just over two seconds remaining. The Billikens inbounded the ball, but were stifled around the perimeter as the clock expired.

The Explorers overcame a sluggish shooting start to go 43.4% for the game, including 57.7% in the second half (15-for-26). The Blue & Gold held Saint Louis to 39.3% from the field and 0-for-8 from beyond the arc.

The Explorers return home on Wednesday (1/11) when they host Fordham in a noon contest at Tom Gola Arena.