ATLANTA - A 12-1 Ohio run late in the second half was the difference as the La Salle women's basketball team dropped a 74-63 decision to the Bobcats in the opener of the Georgia State Holiday & Hoops Classic at the GSU Sports Arena on Friday night.

Amy Griffin provided the highlight for the Explorers (6-4) as the Atlanta native poured in a career-high 20 points in front of her hometown crowd. The rookie went 6-for-10 from the field overall, hit two of three triple attempts, and pulled down a game-high-tying six rebounds. 

Khristin Lee, who hails from two hours away in Birmingham, Ala., added 11 points and a matched Griffin and Ashanti Freeland with six rebounds. She chipped in two assists and two steals as well.

Quiera Lampkins paced the Bobcats (7-2) with 18 points, 12 of which came at the free throw line. She completed the double-double with a game-high 11 rebounds and added three assists and two steals. Lexie Baldwin, Mariah Byard and Kiyanna Black added 11 apiece.

The physical game featured 54 combined fouls, and four total players (two from each squad) hit the five-foul limit.

Black hit a three-pointer at the 10:47 mark of the first half, and the Bobcats never trailed after that. However, the Explorers kept within striking distance the rest of the game, and got within one at 56-55 with 7:14 left. Back-to-back Ohio treys pushed the lead back to seven, and the Explorers could not overcome the foul trouble and 14 second-half turnovers.

The Explorers shot 40.0 percent (20-50) for the game, and 3-for-9 from long range. Ohio went 43.6 percent overall (24-55) and hit 9-for-24 from long range.

The Explorers return to action tomorrow in the Holiday & Hoops Classic finale. They face host Georgia State at 6 pm.