PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle women's basketball team (2-3) led by as many as 23 points into the third quarter, but the Howard Bison (2-0) mounted a comeback to claim the victory, 75-72, Friday evening inside Tom Gola Arena.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After Howard claimed the first two points from the charity stripe, La Salle outpaced the Bison 11-2 over the first 5:32 for an 11-4 lead at the media break. Sophomore Claire Jacobs accounted for four of the team's points. Howard chipped a point off the deficit as it outscored La Salle 10-9 over the final 4:28 as the Blue & Gold led, 20-14.
• The Bison started the second quarter with a 5-2 spurt over the first 1:32 before the Explorers outscored Howard 16-4 over the following 5:44 for a sizable 39-23 lead. Howard scored eight of the final 14 points for a 44-31 La Salle lead at the half. The 44 points are the most points by the Explorers to start a game this season. Collectively, the group shot 50% from the floor, including 50% from long range.
• La Salle continued to build its lead at the start of the third period after it outscored Howard 14-8 through the first 5:06. The Bison pulled within five heading into the fourth with a 16-2 spurt over the final 4:11. La Salle led, 60-55.
• The Explorers led by as many as seven points in the fourth quarter before Howard continued to mount its comeback. The Bison used an 8-0 spurt over a 2:19 span to pull ahead 63-62. After a Howard bucket, C. Jacobs connected on a three-pointer to tie the game at 65 with 4:18 remaining. The visitors jumped ahead by five with 2:02 left and the Blue & Gold pulled within a point with 46 seconds left after a 4-0 spurt, but Howard prevailed.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• A total of 10 Explorers registered points in the loss.
• C. Jacobs finished with a game high 21 points on 7-of-19 shooting, including 4-of-8 from deep.
• Sophomore Jordon Lewis was the team's second leading scorer with 14 points. The Houston, Texas native shot 5-of-10 from the field and 2-of-4 from beyond the arc. She also recorded a team high six rebounds.
• Sophomore Amy Jacobs accounted for nine points on a 4-of-7 night.
• Junior Molly Masciantonio neared the double-digit plateau with eight points.
• Senior Kate Hill finished with six assists to just one turnover.
• Howard held the rebounding margin 56-36.
• La Salle finished the game with a 39.1% field-goal percentage, including 35.7% from three-point territory.

UP NEXT:
La Salle is scheduled to host Drexel on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tipoff.