PHILADELPHIA - Juniors Gabby Crawford and Claire Jacobs combined to score 33 points on 12-of-20 shooting, but the La Salle women's basketball team (7-5) dropped a hard-fought, 66-56 decision to Villanova (6-5) in Philadelphia Big 5 action on Tuesday afternoon. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Both teams struggled offensively at the outset, with two free throws from junior Amy Jacobs tying the score at 7-7 with 4:12 to go in the first quarter.
• The Wildcats finished the stanza on a 7-0 run, with all seven points coming at the free throw line.
• Crawford, who was slowed by early foul trouble, gained traction at the start of the second quarter, connecting on a three-pointer and going on a personal 6-0 run that brought the Explorers to within one.
• Senior Kayla Spruill extended the spurt with a spin move in the lane to give the Explorers a 15-14 advantage.
• Two Spruill free throws established a three-point cushion for La Salle with just under three minutes to go in the half, before Villanova once again closed the period with seven straight and entered the locker room with a 24-20 lead.
• The two teams traded baskets to start the third before the Wildcats opened up a 34-25 lead following a layup by Anahi-Lee Cauley.
• Villanova maintained a lead throughout the third and fourth quarters, with senior Molly Masciantonio, Crawford and Jacobs doing their best to keep things close.
• The trio combined to score all 21 of La Salle's points in the quarter, with a layup by Crawford seconds into the fourth cutting the deficit to five.
• That is as close as the Explorers would get, however, as a 9-0 run by Villanova after the Crawford bucket pushed the visitors in front to stay.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• The Explorers outshot Villanova in a defensive battle, 39.2 percent to 36.4 percent.
• Turnovers, however, proved to be costly for La Salle, as 17 miscues led to 18 points by the Wildcats.
• La Salle's bench, led by Crawford's 17 points, outscored Villanova's, 22-13.
• Villanova outrebounded the Explorers, 38-25, with 11 of those coming on the offensive end. Brianna Herlihy led VU with 13 boards.

GAME NOTES:

• Masciantonio had a productive afternoon for La Salle, scoring 10 points and dishing out seven assists against just two turnovers.
• Villanova's Maddy Siegrist led all scorers with 24 points, but the Explorers limited her to 8-of-19 shooting from the field.
• Herlihy was the only other player in double figures for the Wildcats with 15 points.