RICHMOND, Va. – The La Salle women's basketball team dropped the contest on the road against Richmond, 75-58, Sunday afternoon.

La Salle is now 12-11 on the season and 5-6 in the Atlantic 10. Richmond improves to 14-11 overall and 5-7 in conference play.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Early turnover trouble for La Salle helped Richmond to a quick 10-0 run to start the frame. The Explorers put up just three points before the Spiders took a 9-0 run into the media for the 19-3 lead. La Salle took a 9-5 run out of the break through the end of the frame to cut the deficit to 12, 24-12.
• The teams stood at a 3-2 stand still in favor of Richmond for nearly two minutes in the second quarter before a 4-0 run gave the Spiders a 17-point advantage heading into the media break, 31-14. Jaye Haynes stepped up coming out of the break putting up two to end the Explorers' nearly four-minute scoring drought. La Salle held a narrow 9-8 edge over the Spiders through the rest of the frame to trai by 14 at the end of the first half, 39-25.
• The Explorers found their grove coming out of the half converting three buckets, including two 3-pointers, and committing just one turnover before the media break. The Spiders continued to remain a few steps ahead holding the 15-9 advantage over the Explorers in the first five minutes of the frame. Richmond extended its lead to as many as 24 with just 10 seconds left in the frame. A fast break Molly Masciantonio layup at the 0:02 mark brought the deficit to 22 to end the frame, 64-42.
• Spruill brought the gap back down to 16 with a solo 8-2 run comprised of back-to-back threes through the first 3:25 of the final frame. Haynes extended the run with a jumper to bring La Salle back within 14, 66-52, with four minutes left in the frame. Michelle Kozicki put up six puts over the remaining time for La Salle, but Richmond held the 9-6 edge to take the game, 75-58.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Spruill led the scoring effort for La Salle putting up 19 points on 8-of-10 from the field, 2-of-3 from deep and 1-of-2 from the line.
• The Spiders stopped La Salle's 3-point game holding the Explorers to just 21.7% shooting from the long range. La Salle also struggled from the charity stripe shooting 56.3% in the game.
• The Explorers won the turnover battle 14-19 but lost the battle at the boards, 33-28.
• La Salle held the advantage in second chance points (14-7) and bench points (20-14). The Spiders capitalized on points off turnovers (16-9), points in the paint (38-30) and fast break points (18-9).

GAME NOTES:

• Spruill has now reached double-digit scoring in 17 games this season including the last four straight. She is now the second Explorer to shoot at least 80.0% from the field this season.
• Haynes 10-point effort marks her seventh 10+ game this season and second in the last six contests.
• Kozicki's eight points ties her career-high last set in the game against Niagara on Nov. 20, 2021. Her 2-of-2 effort from the line ties her season-high from the charity stripe.
• Julie Jekot's four rebounds ties her career-high.
• This marks just the third game that the Explorers have shot under 60% from the line.
• La Salle has won the turnover battle in 16 of its game this season including the last four straight.
• The Spiders continue to lead the all-time series against La Salle 25-8. The Explorers fall to 2-14 when visiting Richmond.

UP NEXT:

• The Explorers return home to start a three-game stretch at Tom Gola Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 16. La Salle will face Davidson at 6 p.m. on Social Justice Awareness Night in partnership with the Institute for the Development of African American Youth (IDAAY).