PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The La Salle women's basketball team took an early lead that it would not relinquish defeating the Davidson Wildcats 80-68 Wednesday night in Tom Gola Arena.
 
La Salle improves to 13-11 on the season and 6-6 in the Atlantic 10 while Davidson falls to 13-12 overall and 4-9 in the league.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• La Salle took a 14-2 run through the first 4:30 highlighted by two 3-point buckets from Claire Jacobs and one each from both Amy Jacobs and Christina Kline to force a Davidson timeout. The Wildcats took a 5-0 run out of the media to close the gap to seven, 14-7, but the scoring remained tight through the rest of the frame with the Explorers taking a 21-15 lead into the second quarter.
• The Explorers gave up an earl foul allowing Davidson to put up a single point before responding with a 7-0 run through the 6:20 mark to pull ahead by 12, 28-16. The Wildcats held the 15-11 edge through the remainder of the quarter to cut the deficit back down to eight at the end of the half, 39-31.
• It was an even effort to start the third with both teams going 7-7 through the first 3:30 of the frame. The Wildcats put together a 5-0 run answered by 4-0 run from La Salle with Davidson holding a narrow 12-11 advantage heading into the break. Davidson's momentum picked up following the media with an 8-2 run over a 2:48 period to come within a single point of the lead, 52-51. Kline had the final say with a bucket from deep to push the Explorers back up by four, 55-51.
• The Wildcats started off the frame with a second-chance jump shot to come within two points of the Explorers' lead. That would be the closest they would come as La Salle pulled ahead by as many as 15 thanks to a 6-0 run from the 3:16 through the 1:45 mark. The Explorers came out on top in the end defeating Davidson by 12, 80-68.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Three Explorers found themselves in double-digits with Kayla Spruill leading the group with 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting including a 1-of-1 effort from deep and 3-of-4 effort from the charity stripe.
• Claire Jacobs totaled 18 points and saw tremendous success from the 3-point range shooting 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. She stepped up to the line the most for La Salle shooting 6-of-8.  
• Jaye Haynes was consistent putting up 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting including a 3-of-4 effort from beyond the arc and 2-of-2 performance from the line.
• Point guards Molly Masciantonio and Kenya Cote-Lysius combined for a total of nine assists and committed just a single turnover in the contest.
• La Salle lost the battle at the boards by a narrow 28-27 margin, but yet again won the turnover battle 11-13.
• The Explorers shot an impressive 53.8% from the field and 55% from the long range.

GAME NOTES:

• Spruill has now recorded 18 games in double-figures, including six with 20+ points. This is the fifth-straight 10+ point performance for the senior. Her 10 field goals made mark a new season-high.
• The contest is only the sixth game this season Spruill has been held to a single three-point bucket and only the second time in conference play.
• Claire Jacobs has now reached nine games in double digits. Her 18-point effort marks her first double-figure game in the month of February.
• Claire Jacobs three 4-pointers ties her season high and marks the eighth time she has sunk at least three buckets from deep in a game.
• Haynes has now reached 10+ points in two-straight games and nine times total this season. Her three 3-point buckets ties her season-high.
• This is the first contest in which three Explorers have recorded 10+ points since La Salle faced Richmond in Tom Gola Arena on Jan. 23 of this year.
• The 80-point effort marks La Salle's second-highest scoring game of the season. La Salle is now 2-0 when scoring 80+ points this season.
• La Salle has won the turnover battle in 17 of its contests this season including the last five straight.
• The Explorers 53.8% effort from the field and 55% effort from the long range marks the highest percentages achieved by the Explorers this season in each category.
• This is the first victory for La Salle against Davidson on its home court in the all-time series.

UP NEXT:

• The Explorers continue play at home on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. when they take on the Saint Louis Billikens on senior day! The game will also welcome back women's basketball alumni.