VILLANOVA, Pa. – The La Salle women's basketball team finished out its three-game road stretch with a tough battle at Villanova that led to an 81-55 loss for the Explorers.
 
La Salle falls to 8-6 on the season while the Wildcats improve to 10-3.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Wildcats got off to a quick 4-0 start before a Claire Jacobs layup and Molly Masciantonio free throw cut the Explorers deficit to one, 4-3. Villanova managed to pull ahead by four two more times until a Kayla Spruill three ball put La Salle back within one, 9-8, before the media timeout. Villanova built up a 10-point lead through the ensuing three minutes cut to seven by a Masciantonio long ball. The Wildcats converted once more before the end of the frame to take a nine-point lead into the second quarter, 20-11.
• Villanova held a narrow edge over the Explorers in the second quarter with both teams shooting 66.7% from the three range and the Wildcats capitalizing from the field outshooting La Salle 63.6% to 30.8%.
• La Salle picked up its scoring in the third with 17 points from 6-of-15 shooting including 1-of-5 from the 3-point range and 4-of-6 from the line. Villanova had its hottest frame of the game shooting 61.5% from the field and 100% from the charity stripe to rack up 24 points and take a 23-point lead, 62-39, into the final frame.
• The Wildcats pulled ahead by as many a 28 in the final 10 minutes, but a 16-point effort from the Explorers including a five-point effort from Gabby Crawford and four-points from Spruill cut the deficit down to 26 to end the game, 81-55.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Spruill led the game with a team-high 14 points from 6-of-12 shooting including a perfect 2-of-2 performance from beyond the arc.
• Claire Jacobs ended the game in double-digits with 11 points from 4-of-12 shooting including 3-of-6 from the long range.
• Crawford also joined the 10-point club with 13 points from 5-of-8 shooting, 1-of-2 from the 3-point range and 2-of-2 from the foul line. She also led the battle at the boards for the Explorers with a team-high five rebounds.
• Masciantonio was the lead help with seven assists and just one turnover.

GAME NOTES:

• Spruill's double-figure game marks her 13^th of the season, the most of any Explorer. The contest marks her third this season shooting 100% from the 3-point range.
• Jacobs has now recorded double-digits in nine games including the last four-straight.
• The game marks Crawford's six games hitting 10-plus points this season and her first in five games including her first in the month of December.
• La Salle continues to trail Villanova 9-43 in the all-time series and extends its losing streak to 14. The Explorers are now 4-19 when visiting the Wildcats.

UP NEXT:

• The Explorers receive a well-deserved break before returning home to Tom Gola Arena at TruMark Financial Center in exactly 10 days to open conference play against cross-town Big 5 and Atlantic 10 rival Saint Joseph's. The game will take place at 2 p.m. on Dec. 31. Fans are encouraged to come early to receive an exclusive 2023 women's basketball calendar!