PHILADELPHIA – A comeback attempt by La Salle women's basketball (9-14, 3-7 A-10) fell short in a 67-61 Senior Day defeat to Richmond (11-13, 4-6). Sophomore Kayla Spruill and freshmen Claire Jacobs and Jordon Lewis all finished in double-digits to lead the offense. Senior Shalina Miller anchored the defense with a career-best eight blocks to go along with eight rebounds and two steals.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Spruill opened the game scoring the first seven points of the game. The visitors responded with 10 straight to take the lead, which would stick for the remainder of the quarter. The frame would play out with Richmond slightly outscoring La Salle 5-4, leading 15-11 after one.
• The second quarter firmly swung in favor of the Explorers. After Richmond opened the period with a basket, the Blue & Gold claimed 15 of the next 19 points. All 15 of those points came courtesy of the three ball. The final four minutes ticked by in less explosive fashion as La Salle went into the break with a 30-24 lead.
• The home side expanded its advantage to double digits at the start of the third via a 5-1 run. That cushion proved necessary to weather the oncoming Spiders' storm as Richmond outscored La Salle 22-8 over the final eight minutes of the third to take a 47-43 lead.
• The opening four-and-a-half minutes of the fourth didn't yield much offense from either team, but it was Richmond who found the basket more often, scoring seven of the first nine points. Down nine, La Salle muscled its way back into the game by embarking on a 7-0 run. The Explorers remained within two points until late: with 46 second remaining and the score at 60-58, a three from the away side proved decisive.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• La Salle found its shooting stroke from deep in the second quarter to surge into the lead. After going 1-of-5 in the first quarter, the Blue & Gold shot 5-of-11 in the second. Those five makes accounted for all but one of its field goals in the frame.
• Spruill finished with a team-high 14 points, followed by C. Jacobs on 13 and Lewis on 12. The trio made 14 total field goals, six of which came from beyond the arc.
• Don't Shoot on Shalina: five of Miller's career-best eight blocks came in the first half.
• Junior Kate Hill served up nine assists against only two turnovers vs. Richmond, furthering her conference-best assist-to-turnover ratio (2.81 after today's game).
• Miller led the way in the scoring department among the Senior Day honorees with eight points. Graduate student Carley Lytton and senior Sofilia Ngwafang combined for eight between them.

GAME NOTES

• Miller now has 59 blocks this season, approaching her single-season record of 64.
• K. Hill's assist tally was tied for the second most in her career. It also gives her eight games with 7+ dishes this season, double the amount of any other A-10 player.
• Spruill has enjoyed playing against the Spiders in 2020 as she's recorded double-digit performances in both games (18 points on 1/23). Overall, she now has 13 games with double-digit scoring (second on the team).
• C. Jacobs leads the Explorers with 14 games in double-digits. Lewis is third with nine games.