Box Score



PHILADELPHIA - Fordham used a late first-half run to take a double-digit halftime lead as La Salle dropped a 69-49 decision to the Rams on Wednesday night at Tom Gola Arena.

The game was designated the annual "Pink Out" game for breast cancer awareness, raising funds to benefit cancer research through the Kay Yow Foundation's "Play-4-Kay" program.

Shanel Harrison led the Explorers (7-15, 3-4 Atlantic 10) with 13 points, nine of those in the second half, and contributed five rebounds. Ebonee Jones added 11 points including a perfect 5-for-5 at the free throw line. Karynda DuPree pulled down a team-best eight rebounds while chipping in six points and two assists.

The Explorers were without sharpshooter Brittany Wilson (18.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg) for the second straight game. Wilson is listed as day-to-day.

Four Rams (16-6, 6-1 Atlantic 10) reached double figures, led by Abigail Corning's 17 points on 6-for-7 shooting from the floor. Erin Rooney added 15 along with eight assists, Arielle Collins scored 14 and grabbed five steals and Marah Strickland chipped in 12 points. Samantha Clark led all players with 11 rebounds while chipping in six points.

The first 10 minutes of the game was a back-and-forth affair that saw five lead changes and four ties. Michea Bryant returned to the lineup tonight, connecting on a long three-point shot to tie the game at 13-13 at the 10:30 mark, the last tie of the game.

Collins responded with a triple of her own 20 seconds later to put the visitors up for good. DuPree got La Salle within one at 16-15 on a layup at 7:27, but Fordham put together a 9-0 run sparked by a Clark layup at 6:32.

Harrison broke up the run by hitting a fadeaway jumper in traffic at 3:09, but Fordham outscored the Blue & Gold 6-4 down the stretch to take a 31-21 halftime lead.

Siobhan Beslow scored the first bucket after halftime and Jones converted a three-point play to get the Explorers within five at 31-26 in the first 40 seconds of the second half.

The Rams responded with another 9-0 run on baskets from four different players to go back up 14 and they held a double-digit lead through the remainder of the game.

The Explorers lengthened a string of made free throws that dated back to the UMass game on Jan. 30. In total, the Explorers nailed 22 straight free throws going back to the 5:46 mark of the second half against UMass, and did not miss again until an attempt rimmed out at 13:09 in the second half tonight. That marked a period of 72 minutes and 37 seconds of playing time without a missed free throw. The squad went 7-for-10 overall tonight.

Fordham, the league's top free throw shooting team, went 90.5 percent from the line (19-for-21).

The Rams shot 41.5 percent from the field, while the Explorers went 35.1 percent including a 42.9 percent output in the second half.

Fordham owned the rebounding advantage, 39-32, and committed 10 turnovers to the Explorers' 14.

The Explorers return to action on Sunday when they head to Xavier for a 2 p.m. tipoff at the Cintas Center.