PHILADELPHIA – Rookie Jaye Haynes dropped 16 points in her debut as the La Salle women's basketball team fell to Towson, 95-66, to start the 2020-21 campaign.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
-       Towson held a slim advantage halfway through the first half of the opening frame, 9-6. Seniors Haleigh Hill and Deja King each connected on a long ball to account for the Explorers points. The Tigers opened up the game as they outscored the Blue & Gold, 16-7, for a 25-13 lead at the end of the period.
-       The Tigers pulled ahead by as many as 25 points in the second frame, however the Explorers utilized a 17-4 run over the final 5:24 to close the gap to 44-32. Haynes led the home squad with seven points at the half.
-       Towson kept the pedal to the floor in the opening 5:14 of the third stanza as it outpaced La Salle, 16-9. The visitors pushed the lead after maintaining a 9-8 advantage through the rest of the period for a 69-49 lead.
-       The visitors sealed the victory in the final frame as they outpaced the home squad, 26-17.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
-       Haynes led the Explorers on 5-of-11 shooting, including 1-for-2 from long range and 5-for-6 from the stripe.
-       H. Hill notched a career high 10 points in her start and tied her mark with six rebounds.
-       Junior Kayla Spruill finished with nine points, seven boards, and three steals for a well-rounded evening.
-       Junior Molly Masciantonio paced the squad with three assists and added seven points in her DI debut.
-       Five Tigers finished in double figures, with a game high 19 points from Shavonne Smith.
-       Towson won the rebounding battle (53 to 36) and out shot La Salle (54.8% to 30.7%).
-       Nine of the 10 Explorers to see game action registered a point.
 
GAME NOTES:
-       Rookies Haynes and Morgan Adams made their first collegiate appearance and scored their first career points.
-       Masciantonio made her first DI start.
-       H. Hill made her first career start.
-       Spruill is two points shy of hitting 500 for her career.
 
UP NEXT:
La Salle returns to action on Wednesday with a quick trip over the bridge to take on Monmouth in Long Branch, N.J.