PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle women's basketball team battled back from a sizeable 4th quarter deficit to force overtime but eventually ran out of gas in an 84-76 loss to VCU on Sunday afternoon in Tom Gola Arena.
 
Micahya Owens hit the game-tying three-pointer with 18.3 seconds left in regulation as the Explorers rallied from a nine-point deficit in the 4th quarter. The trey from Owens capped a 10-3 run for the home team over the final 3:50 of regulation.
 
The Explorers stifled the Rams attempt at the game-winner in the final seconds of regulation to force the extra period, but it was VCU who got the ball rolling with four straight points to start the overtime period.
 
Owens hit a pair of foul shots in to get La Salle on the board in overtime, making it a two-point game before Adaeze Alaeze answered with a three-point play for VCU to put the Rams in front 76-71. Amy Griffin cut the VCU lead back to three with a pair of foul shots on La Salle's next possession but the Explorers wouldn't get any closer than that over the final 2:33 of OT. 
 
Owens finished with a game-high 24 points for the Explorers, going 8-for-20 from the floor and 6-for-7 from the foul line. Griffin added 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists while Ebony Wells finished with 11 points.
 
The Explorers welcome Massachusetts to Tom Gola Arena on Wednesday night for the first of two games against the Minutewomen this season. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.