QUEENS, N.Y. – La Salle women's basketball duo Claire Jacobs and Kayla Spruill paced the Explorers totaling over half of the team's total points, but La Salle couldn't overcome an early deficit, dropping the contest to St. John's, 83-70, on Saturday.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After trading points through the first two minutes, La Salle put together a 7-0 run to pull ahead by one point, 11-10, with just over three minutes remaining in the first frame. St. John's outscored the Explorers 8-2 over the final three minutes to take an 18-13 advantage into the second quarter.
• Foul trouble for La Salle helped the Red Storm put together a 10-0 run to pull ahead by as many as 14 points in the second frame. The Explorers responded with a 9-0 run to cut the deficit to just five points with just over two minutes remaining in the quarter, 30-25. St. John's ultimately held the 21-15 advantage over La Salle to end the half up by 11 points, 39-28.
• The Explorers found their momentum in the third frame shooting 50.0% (9-of-18) from the field and 50.0% (3-of-6) from deep to hold a 24-19 advantage over the Red Storm. La Salle cut the deficit to just six by the end of the frame, 58-52.
• St. John's beat La Salle in the 3-point game in the final frame shooting 4-of-6 (.667) from deep while the Explorers shot just 2-of-7 (.286). The Red Storm stepped up to the charity stripe eight times shooting 87.5%. St. John's held the 25-18 advantage in the frame to defeat the Explorers, 83-70.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Claire Jacobs paced the Explorers with 23 points and six rebounds. The junior shot 60.0% from both the field (9-of-15) and from the long range (3-of-5). She stepped up to the charity stripe twice sinking both shots (1.000).
• Spruill added 19 points, eight rebounds and two assists. She shot 50.0% (6-of-12) from the field and 60.0% (3-of-5) from deep.
• St. John's held the advantage in rebounds, 43-38, and turnovers, 11-18.
• The Explorers topped the Red Storm from beyond the arc shooting 11-of-28 (.393) while St. John's went 8-of-26 (.308) from deep.

GAME NOTES:

• Claire Jacobs' 23 points in the game marks a new season-high for the junior. This marks the first game she has reached the 20-point mark this season. Her nine field goals made also marks a new season-high while her 15 attempts ties her current season-high.
• Molly Masciantonio led the Explorers with nine assists in the game, a new season-high for the senior and just one assist shy of tying her career-high assist total.
• Spruill has now reached double-digits in 10 of La Salle's 11 contests this season.
• La Salle's 39.3% effort from the 3-point range marks the team's highest 3-point field goal percentage in a game this season.
• The Explorers are now 1-3 all-time and 0-2 on the road in the series against the Red Storm.

UP NEXT:

• La Salle will host Sacred Heart at CHASE Fieldhouse on Saturday, Dec. 18 in an exclusive Atlantic-10 championship preview. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.