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PHILADELPHIA - Despite one of the better shooting performances of late, the La Salle women's basketball squad could not overcome Saint Joseph's as the Explorers fell 76-63 at Hagan Arena on Wednesday night.

Alicia Cropper drained a team-high 20 points to lead a trio of Explorers in double figures. Micahya Owens added 15, 11 of which came in the second half to help the Explorers pull within four midway through the period. Leeza Burdgess added 13 points.

Erin Shields led all scorers with 22 points and solved the Explorers' perimeter defense by going 4-for-8 from long range. Ashley Robinson and Natasha Cloud added 17 apiece.

The Explorers (12-12, 7-5 Atlantic 10) won the tip and came out hungry, going toe-to-toe with the Hawks (18-6, 7-4 Atlantic 10) early. However, the Hawks were helped by going 11-for-13 from the free throw line to build a 10-point 42-32 halftime lead.

With the score at 49-39 early in the second half, the Explorers put together an 8-2 run capped by an Owens three to draw within 51-47 with 11:55 remaining. That was the closest the Explorers would get as the Hawks responded by going inside for a 17-5 run spanning the next seven minutes to gain their largest lead of the game, a 16-point 68-52 advantage with 4:18 on the clock.

The Explorers could not break the 10-point barrier down the stretch, thanks to the Hawks going 6-for-6 at the charity stripe the rest of the way.

The Explorers dropped their first contest of the season when scoring at least 60 points and when shooting better than 40 percent from the field. The team went 44.1 percent (26-59) but had trouble when the Hawks drove the lane. The Hawks finished with a 46.7 percent clip (28-60).

The Hawks also went 16-for-19 overall at the free throw line to the Explorers' 6-for-13 effort.

St. Joe's also won the rebounding battle, 36-34.

The Explorers remain on the road, traveling to Fordham on Saturday for a 2 p.m. contest.