Box Score

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - La Salle jumped out to a 24-3 lead midway through the first half, a cushion that protected the Explorers from a Tennessee State comeback effort in a 66-58 win in the consolation game of the Gator Holiday Classic at the University of Florida.

Micahya Owens drained a game-high 19 points, including 11 in the second half, while adding a team-high eight rebounds. Khristin Lee added 14 points and seven rebounds, and Alicia Cropper chipped in 12 points.

Rookie Lisa Mintzer earned her first collegiate start in her second game since returning from injury. She scored six points, pulled down five rebounds and recorded one blocked shot.

Tennessee State's Imani Davis led the Tigers with 15 points and a game-high 16 rebounds.

TSU missed 11 of its first 12 shots and the Explorers capitalized by building a 24-3 lead after scoring the first eight points of the game. The Explorers held the Tigers without a field goal from 16:55 to 8:04 of the first half, and to just 3-of-22 shooting in the entire first half. The Tigers stayed within striking distance with 10 of their 18 first-half points coming at the free throw line.

The Explorers were chilly from the field as well, going just 28.6 percent (8-28) but went 14-for-18 at the charity stripe to take a 30-18 halftime lead.

Owens drained a three to open the second half and the Explorers maintained a double-digit advantage until a 5-0 spurt with under four minutes remaining brought the Tigers within nine for the first time since early in the first half. Cropper drained two free throws just after the media timeout at 2:29 to push the lead back to 11 at 60-49, but a Rachel Allen three-pointer at 2:02 sparked a 7-1 Tiger run to cut the Explorer lead to five with 31 seconds on the clock.

Jasmine Alston was fouled in the inbounds and hit both of her free throws as the team was in the double bonus. TSU's Diamond Beatty responded with a layup to get back within five with 25 seconds left, but that was the final bucket of the game for the Tigers. The Explorers converted three of four free throws down the stretch for the final 66-58 score.

The Explorers put together a strong outing at the free throw line, going 78.1 percent on 25-for-32 shooting. The Tigers went just 51.9 percent (14-27). The Explorers also forced 16 Tiger turnovers to 13 Explorer miscues. The Tigers won the battle of the boards, outrebounding La Salle 45-39.

The Explorers return to action on Dec. 29 when they play Dartmouth in the opening round of the Blue Sky Classic in Hanover, N.H. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.