La Salle University Athletics

PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle women's basketball team scored six unanswered points over the final 1:50 but couldn't complete the comeback in a 56-49 loss to the Lafayette Leopards in the 2016-17 season opener on Friday night at Tom Gola Arena.
 
The Explorers were unable to overcome Lafayette's surge early in the 3^rd quarter despite a game-high 16 points from La Salle's Amy Griffin. The junior also chipped in nine rebounds.
 
Trailing by nine late in the second quarter, La Salle closed the first half with four unanswered points to cut Lafayette's lead to 27-22 at the break. The Leopards, however, jumpstarted the 3^rd quarter with nine straight points to push their lead to 14.
 
Lafayette led by as many as 16 in the second half, and maintained a double-digit lead until La Salle's run in the closing minutes. Adreana Miller started the run with a free throw at 1:50, Jasmine Alston added a pair of foul shots and Amy Griffin chipped in a layup and a free throw before the Explorers ran out of game clock.
 
Alston finished with five points, and game-highs in rebounds (10) and assists (seven). Miller and Micahya Owens were La Salle's other double-digit scorers, finishing with 10 points each.
 
The Explorers visit Big 5 rival Temple at McGonigle Hall for the Owls home opener on Monday night at 5 pm.