Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – Penn used an 11-2 run midway through the second half to pull away as the La Salle women's basketball squad dropped a 64-54 decision in Big 5 play at Tom Gola Arena on Monday night.
 
Rookie Micahya Owens was the lone Explorer in double figures with 16 points, while fellow rookie Jasmine Alston corralled a game-high-tying eight rebounds while chipping in four points and a game-best four steals.

Penn's Alyssa Baron led all scorers with 23 points and Kara Bonenberger added 10. The Quakers took the lead at 5-4 with 16:42 on the clock and never trailed, though the Explorers got within six before that decisive 11-2 run.

The Explorers drop to 2-4 (0-2 Big 5), while Penn improves to 1-2 (1-0 Big 5).
 
Leeza Burdgess drew first blood in the game with a putback off of an offensive rebound. She finished with four offensive boards and a total of seven. Penn's Meghan McCullough responded with a three before Khristin Lee put the Explorers back on top 4-3 with a jumper in the paint.

That was the final lead the Explorers would have as a Baron layup sparked a 10-0 Quaker run over the next 3:36. The Explorers responded with a 6-0 spurt to get within three, but that was the closest the squad would get the rest of the way.

The team was hampered by cold shooting, going just 30.7 percent (23-75) and 12.5 percent (3-24) from long range. Penn shot 41.9 percent (26-62) for the game.

The Explorers outrebounded the Quakers 46-44 and for the fifth time in six games forced their opponent into more turnovers. The Explorers forced Penn into 20 miscues, while committing 16.

La Salle heads on the road on Thursday with a 7 p.m. contest at William & Mary.