TAMPA, Fla. – The La Salle women's basketball team built up a comeback in the end of the first quarter to tie the game early, but a double-digit run for South Florida put the game just out of reach for the Explorers dropping the contest 75-50.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• South Florida pulled away with an early lead thanks to a six-point run stuffed by a Mia Jacobs layup to give the Explorers their first score of the game. Kayla Spruill closed out the first frame with a three ball followed by another bucket from beyond the arc from Molly Masciantonio to start the second quarter to tie it up, 12-12.
• The Bulls put together a 10-point unanswered performance to take a 24-14 lead before the media timeout in the second frame. A five-point effort from Claire Jacobs ending in an and one for three points put La Salle's deficit back in in single-digits to end the half, 36-28.
• Mia Jacobs put up nine points in the second half to help bring the once 25-point deficit down to 15, but La Salle's 26.1% effort from the field couldn't overcome the Bulls' 38.2% shooting performance including five major buckets from the long range.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Mia Jacobs led the Explorers' offensive efforts with a team-high 15 points from a 4-of-8 performance from the field and 7-of-11 effort from the line.
• Claire Jacobs joined the double-digit club with 10 points from 4-of-14 shooting including 1-of-5 from the 3-point range and 1-of-1 from the charity stripe.
• The rebounding efforts were shared between Claire Jacobs, Amy Jacobs and Charity shears with four boards apiece.
• The Bulls led the battle at the boards 50-27 and turned the ball over 18 times compared to the Explorers' 16.

GAME NOTES:

• La Salle is 0-2 in the all-time series against USF with both losses happening on the road.
• The Explorers fall to 4-4 when playing away this season.
• The 25-point loss marks the largest margin of defeat for the Explorers this year.
• La Salle is now 3-4 on the season when allowing its opponents to score 70 or more points.
• Mia Jacobs has now recorded the last three-straight games in double-digits and her fifth game sinking at least four buckets from the free throw line.
• Claire Jacobs has now recorded double-digits in eight games including the last three-straight.

UP NEXT:

• La Salle takes on Big 5 rival Villanova on Wednesday, Dec. 21 on the Wildcats home court at 11:30 a.m.