NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – The La Salle women's basketball team took an early double-digit lead over Niagara that it wouldn't relinquish defeating Niagara 83-64 on Saturday night. The Explorers improve to 2-1 on the season having now won two consecutive games on the road.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• La Salle started the game they way they do best with a deep ball from Claire Jacobs to take a 3-0 lead. The Explorers gave up just four points to the Purple Eagles before putting together a 7-0 run through the 6:45 mark to take an 11-4 lead and force a Niagara timeout. La Salle held a 15-8 edge over the remainder of the frame capped off with another Jacobs three to take a 14-point lead to end the first, 26-12.
• After a slow offensive start in the second quarter the Explorers went on a 17-0 run through the 3:29 mark to create a 31-point gap, 49-19. La Salle shot an impressive 71.4% from the field going 10-for-14 and held the Purple Eagles to just eight points to take a 54-20 lead into the half.
• After not sinking a single 3-point bucket in the first half, the Purple Eagles went 3-of-5 from deep through the first seven minutes to hold a 14-7 edge over the Explorers. Following back-to-back failed second chance shots Claire Jacobs found an open lane for the deep ball to put the Explorers back up by 30 heading into the media timeout, 64-34. Niagara continued the momentum out of the media with a 9-6 run to cut the deficit to 27, 70-63.
• Niagara mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter shooting 46.7% from the field and 57.1% from deep to hold a 21-13 advantage in the frame, but it was too little to late and the Explorers took the 83-64 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Four Explorers ended the night in double-digits led by Claire Jacobs with 16 points from 6-of-12 shooting including 4-of-6 from deep.
• Gabby Crawford went 3-of-5 from the field and a perfect 6-of-6 from the line to notch 12 points.
• Julie Jekot recored 11 points and Kayla Spruill 10.
• The Explorers shot 52.5% from the field and 50% from the 3-point range.
• La Salle held a narrow edge in rebounds, 32-31 with 24 of its rebounds happening on defense.
• Niagara led in points off turnovers, 28-23, while the Explorers dominated in points in the paint, 40-26.

GAME NOTES:

• La Salle continues to lead the all-time series with Niagara, 10-0. This is the second-straight game in the series where the Explorers have recorded 83 points
• The Explorers have had at least three players reach 10+ points in three-straight games.
• Spruill has now recorded two consecutive games in double digits.
• Jekot reached her first career game in double-digits. She also set new career-highs in field goals (4) and field goals attempted (7).

UP NEXT:

• The Explorers return to Tom Gola Arena for their home-opener with a midday matchup against Philadelphia cross-town foe Drexel on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 12 p.m.