PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The La Salle women's basketball team jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter and never looked back defeating the Saint Louis Billikens 73-65 on Saturday afternoon in Tom Gola Arena.

La Salle improves to 14-11 overall and 7-6 in conference play while Saint Louis falls to 8-16 on the season and 4-8 in the Atlantic 10.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Saint Louis may have been the first on the board, but the Explorers put together an early 11-0 run comprised of three 3-pointers to jump ahead to a nine-point lead, 11-2, just 2:16 into play. The Billikens cut the lead to five, but thanks to some hot three-point shooting from Erin Morgan, Claire Jacobs and Gabby Crawford, the Explorers pulled back ahead by 12, 23-11, with 2:21 remaining in the frame. Kayla Spruill pushed the lead to 14 after she capitalized off a turnover with just 30 seconds left, 25-11.
• The Explorers' effort from the 3-point range continued to propel them ahead of the Billikens to start the second frame. La Salle took three 3-point buckets from the Jacobs' sisters and Molly Masciantonio into the media break for a 22-point lead, 37-15. Saint Louis held the 4-3 edge through the remainder of the frame to cut the deficit to 19 at the end of the first half, 40-21.
• The third quarter belonged to the Billikens who took a 14-2 run through the first 5:26 of the frame to come within seven points, 42-35. The Explorers tried to pull ahead but two key 3-point buckets for Saint Louis brought them within four points, 47-43, with 0:55 remaining on the clock. Spruill tried to re-extend the lead to six, but foul trouble placed the Billikens at the line to end the frame with just a four-point deficit, 49-45.
• The Billikens came as close as a single point of tying the Explorers with 8:13 remaining in the frame. Back-to-back threes from Claire Jacobs and Masciantonio extended the lead back to seven, 57-50, with five minutes left to play. Saint Louis cut the deficit back to four twice before a 6-0 run comprised of four points from the charity stripe pushed the Explorers back up by 10 in the final minute. The Billikens managed to cut the lead to eight by the end of the game, 73-65.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Five Explorers ended the afternoon in double figures. The squad was led by Spruill with 17 points and Claire Jacobs with 13 points. Masciantonio, Amy Jacobs and Jaye Haynes all recorded 12 points each.
• Spruill and Amy Jacobs led La Salle from the 3-point range each sinking four buckets from deep. As a team, La Salle shot 43.2% from the long range, 16-of-37.
• Masciantonio recorded a team-high six boards and seven assists. She committed no turnovers in the contest.
• La Salle won the battle at the boards, 38-34, as well as the turnover battle, 12-14.
• The Explorers held the advantage in points off turnovers (20-16), second chance points (17-9) and bench points (15-2). The Billikens held the edge on points in the paint, 30-8.

GAME NOTES:

• The victory snaps La Salle's three-game skid in the all-time series against Saint Louis.
• This is the first contest in which the Explorers have out-rebounded their opponent since they defeated Richmond at home on Jan. 23. La Salle is now 6-2 when outrebounding an opponent.
• The team's 16 3-point buckets mark the most 3-point field goals made this season.
• La Salle has now won the turnover battle in 18 contests this season including the last five straight.
• Spruill has now recorded 19 games in double-figures including six-straight. This is the fifth game in which the senior has sunk four buckets from the long-range.
• Claire Jacobs has now reached 10 games in double digits including the the last two-straight. Her three 3-point field goals made marks the ninth time she has sunk at least three 3-pointers in a single game this season.
• Haynes has reached 10+ points in three consecutive games and 10 total this season.
• Amy Jacobs tied her career-high and set a new season-high for 3-point field goals made with four. All of Jacobs' points in the game came from 3-point buckets.
• Masciantonio's 12 points is a new season-high for the point guard. She has now made four buckets from the field four times this season.
• Erin Morgan set season highs in points (3), 3-point field goals made (1) and free throws made (1).
• The five Explorers that ended the game in double figures marks the first time since 2019 that five players have reached double-digit scoring in a single game.

UP NEXT:

• La Salle returns to court at Tom Gola Arena one final time this season on Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. to take on Duquesne in the final home game of the 2021-22 season.