PHILADELPHIA - Jasmine Alston hit the game-winning free throw with 5.5 seconds remaining as the La Salle women's basketball team erased an 18-point deficit in the second half in a 68-64 win over Massachusetts on Wednesday afternoon at Tom Gola Arena.
 
Alston picked up a steal with just under six seconds to play and immediately drew a foul with the game tied at 64-64 and 5.5 seconds left. The senior hit the second foul shot to give the Explorers a one-point lead at 65-64.
 
After the go-ahead foul shot, Amy Griffin stole a pass in the Massachusetts backcourt on the Minutewomen's final possession and knocked down a three as time expired. Griffin finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, a career-high six steals and four assists.  
 
"Our kids just kept fighting," said head coach Jeff Williams. "They kept digging and finally found a way to win, this is a great group."
 
Adreana Miller had a team-high 18 points, and was instrumental in keeping the Explorers afloat during their sluggish start with nine points in the second quarter. Miller drilled a career-high six three-point field goals, finishing 6-for-9 from beyond the arc.
 
"Adreana Miller was huge, she got us back in it," added Williams. "With her dropping threes, she really sparked us."
 
Micahya Owens and Anemone Scheel were also vital during the second half run as Owens scored all 13 of her points in the second half and Scheel tallied eight points in the 4^th quarter. La Salle used an 11-2 run midway through the 3^rd quarter to turn an 18-point deficit to nine points before closing the game on a 13-2 run over the final 3:13.
 
Owens went 5-for-7 from the field and 2-for-2 from the line after the break and finished with six rebounds and a season-high five steals. Scheel pulled down five rebounds and had three assists in addition to her 4^th quarter scoring efforts.  
 
La Salle had a season-high 14 steals in the game, which they converted to 19 points off turnovers. Alston had a pair of steals, dished out a game-high nine assists and paced the Explorers with 10 rebounds.
 
La Salle is at home again on Saturday as they go for a fourth straight win when George Mason visits Tom Gola Arena. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.