Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Despite an 11-point halftime lead, the La Salle women's basketball squad could not overcome a cold second half in a 58-49 loss to Dayton at Tom Gola Arena on Wednesday night.

The contest marked the annual Breast Cancer Awareness game, with the Explorers donning pink warm-ups and pink sweatbands and proceeds from ribbon sales benefitting the Kay Yow Foundation.

Brittany Wilson led the Explorers (12-14, 6-5 Atlantic 10) with 15 points and Alexis Scott chipped in 10. Wilson added five steals, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Ruvanna Campbell pulled down a team-best six rebounds.

The Flyers' high-scoring duo of Andrea Hoover and Justine Raterman scored 22 and 20 points, respectively, to lead Dayton (17-6, 9-2 Atlantic 10). Elle Queen pulled down a game-best nine boards.

The Explorers spotted Dayton an early 14-6 lead at the 11:30 mark before a 13-0 run capped by a Michea Bryant three-pointer at 8:10 gave the home squad a 19-14 lead. Raterman put in a layup to cut the Explorer lead to three, but the Explorers outscored the Flyers 14-5 to take a 33-22 lead into the halftime break.

Olivia Applewhite scored the second half's first bucket at 18:39 before a Campbell jumper pushed the Explorer lead back to 11. That was the largest lead the Explorers would enjoy the rest of the game.

A Raterman layup at 17:57 sparked a 12-4 Flyer run to bring the visitors within three at 39-36. Two Wilson free throws extended the lead back to five but back-to-back treys by Raterman and Hoover gave the visitors their first lead since midway through the first half at 42-41.

Duncan responded with a jumper and the Explorers stayed in the lead or tied for the next four minutes before two Applewhite free throws at 6:57 put the Flyers on top for good at 50-48. The Explorers were hampered by cold shooting down the stretch, as the Flyers held La Salle without a field goal over the final 9:04 and scoreless over the final 6:37. The final La Salle point came on a Campbell free throw at 6:37.

Dayton closed out the game with an 8-0 run for the final 58-49 score.

The Explorers shot 38.7 percent in the first half (12-for-31) while limiting the Flyers to just 29.6 percent (8-of-27). However, the Flyers went 13-of-23 (56.5%) in the second half while the Explorers shot just 6-of-22 (27.3%).

Dayton held a 40-30 advantage on the boards and overcame 27 turnovers to the Explorers' 20 miscues.

The Explorers return to action on Saturday as they travel to Duquesne for a 2 p.m. tipoff.