PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The La Salle women's basketball team took an early 11-point lead over Saint Joseph's in the first quarter, but a 21-point comeback frame for the Hawks gave them the edge resulting in the Explorers' four-point defeat, 68-64.
 
La Salle falls to 8-7 overall and 0-1 in conference play while St. Joe's improves to 11-2 on the season and 1-0 in league games.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Explorers jumped out to an early lead thanks to a Claire Jacobs layup followed by a Mia Jacobs three ball. La Salle pulled ahead by five, 19-14, to end the frame thanks to a seven-point effort from Jaye Haynes.
• La Salle's momentum slowed in the second half allowing a Katie Jekot three-pointer at the 2:31 mark to tie the game, 29-29. Mia Jacobs responded with a three to put the Explorers back in the lead, but two made buckets from the charity stripe gave the Hawks a one-point edge to end the half, 35-34.
• The Hawks found their groove in the third quarter with a 6-0 run to pull ahead 43-36 forcing a timeout by the Explorers at the 6:52 mark. The Explorers continued in the chase for the lead making it a one-possession game thanks to two made free throws from Amy Jacobs with 25 seconds remaining. La Salle found itself in foul trouble putting St. Joe's at the line with one second remaining to pull ahead by five, 51-46.
• The Explorers opened the final frame with a 5-0 run to tie the game for the first time since the second quarter. The Hawks managed to pull away by four twice before layups from Claire and Mia Jacobs paired with two sunk free throws by Kayla Spruill tied the game again with 3:53 remaining. La Salle came within one point of tying three more times through the ensuing three minutes and 30 seconds but foul trouble put Saint Joseph's at the line to end the game and take a four-point victory, 68-64.  

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Claire Jacobs led the scoring effort for the Explorers finishing just shy of 20 points with 17 from 7-of-14 shooting including a 1-of-4 effort from beyond the arc and 2-of-2 performance from the line.
• Mia Jacobs followed closely behind with 14 points shooting 4-of-4 from the line, 2-of-8 from the field and 2-of-5 from deep. Jacobs 14 points paired with her 10 boards in the game marked the first career double-double for the freshman.
• Haynes had a breakout game with 13 points converting one three and shooting 85.7% from the field (6-of-7).
• Charity Shears recorded her first double-digit game in some time recording 11 points from a 3-of-7 performance from the field including a crucial three ball. She shot 100% from the line going 4-of-4.
• Claire Jacobs and Amy Jacobs joined their sister as strong forces at the boards pulling down seven and six rebounds, respectively.
• The Explorers outshot the Hawks in the field 44.7% to 43.9% while also holding the edge from deep (31.3%-26.7%) and at the line (94.4%-77.8%).
• La Salle also outrebounded its opponent 38-23.

GAME NOTES:

• Mia Jacobs is the first Explorer to record a double-double this season and marks her first double-double in the Blue & Gold. She is just one of two Explorers to hit double-digit rebounding this season and is the only to have now done it twice. The freshman has now reached double-digit scoring in four games and has shot 100% from the line in seven games including five games shooting at least four free throws.
• Claire Jacobs has now recorded her 10^th game in double-digits including her fifth straight. Her seven rebounds also marked a new season-high.
• Haynes recorded her first game in double figures for the Explorers making her 13 points a new season-high.
• Shears recorded her sixth game with 10-plus points and her first since reaching 12 points against Temple on Dec. 5.
• Mia Jacobs and Julie Jekot each saw their first career starts.  
• The loss puts the Explorers at 3-1 against the Hawks in 2022 and snaps the team's three-game win streak.
• La Salle is now 1-4 in the first conference game of the season under head coach Mountain MacGillivray.

UP NEXT:
The Explorers will take a single-day break before returning to Tom Gola Arena at TruMark Financial Center for its final non-conference matchup of the season against Hartford at 2 p.m. The game is presented by Certa Pro Painters Blue Bell.