WASHINGTON, D.C. – The La Salle women's basketball team defeated the George Washington Colonials 62-5 in the Explorers' final regular-season contest on Saturday afternoon.
La Salle improves to 15-11 on the season and 9-6 in the Atlantic 10. George Washington falls to 11-17 overall and 4-11 in conference play.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- La Salle jumped out to a fast start holding the Colonials scoreless into the media for a 10-0 lead. Gabby Crawford put up a quick layup coming out of the break answered by a short 5-0 run for GW to cut the deficit to seven, 12-5, with 3:20 remaining. The Explorers held the 4-2 advantage through the rest of the frame to take a 16-7 lead into the second quarter.
- Christina Kline converted a 3-pointer early in the second quarter to put La Salle up by 12. GW held the 9-4 edge over La Salle over the ensuing five minutes to bring the deficit back down to seven, 23-16. The remaining of the quarter belonged to the Colonials with the 14-10 advantage to come within four points, 33-29.
- A 3-pointer for the Colonials brought them within one to start the frame, but a 4-0 run from the Explorers put them back up by five, 37-32, with 7:43 remaining. GW took a 7-2 run into the media to tie it up, 39-39, with 4:50 left in the quarter. La Salle held the 8-5 advantage through the rest of the stanza with four points coming from the line to pull ahead by three at the end of the frame, 47-44.
- GW out-scored La Salle by a single point, 6-5, heading into the media break to bring the game back within two points, 52-50. A jumper from Molly Masciantonio put the Explorers back up by four, but a 4-0 spurt from the Colonials tied it up, 54-54, at the 3:51 mark. La Salle went on a 4-0 run through 0:23 mark when a chance at the charity stripe put GW back within three, 58-55. Claire Jacobs and Kayla Spruill got back-to-back chances at the line to seal the deal with a seven-point victory, 62-55.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Spruill paced La Salle with 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting including 2-of-5 from the long range and 6-of-8 from the charity stripe. She led the rebounding effort with six boards.
- Crawford went 4-of-10 shooting and 2-of-4 from the line for 10 points. She added five boards.
- Jaye Haynes went a perfect 4-of-4 from the line and pulled down five boards.
- The Colonials won the battle of the boards 41-32 while the Explorers won the turnover battle 13-17.
- La Salle held the advantage in points off turnovers (14-12), points in the paint (28-26) and fast break points (4-2). GW capitalized off second chance points, 15-10. The Explorers bench recorded 20 points to the Colonials' 14.
- The Explorers outshot the Colonials 41.3% to 33.9% from the field.
GAME NOTES:
- The Colonials' seven points in the first quarter marks the least amount La Salle has allowed an opponent to score in the first quarter of a game this season.
- The victory marks La Salle's fourth-straight making it the longest winning streak of the season for the Explorers.
- This is now La Salle's third consecutive win against George Washington marking the first time in the series history that the Explorers have won three straight.
- La Salle has won the turnover battle in 20 games this season including the last eight straight.
- Spruill has now recorded her 21st game in double-digits this season including her eighth-straight.
- Crawford has recorded two consecutive games in double figures.
- La Salle is now 6-1 when shooting between 40%-45%.
UP NEXT:
- The Explorers head to CHASE Fieldhouse in Wilmington, Delaware for the Atlantic 10 Tournament on Wednesday, Mar. 2 through Sunday, Mar. 6. The final bracket and pairings will be announced following the final conference game tonight.
