PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The La Salle women's basketball team put up a good fight in a game that saw nine lead changes and tied 10 times, but ultimately fell short to undefeated Rhode Island 66-60 on Sunday afternoon.

La Salle falls to 12-10 on the season and 5-5 in the Atlantic 10. Rhode Island improves to 18-3 overall and a perfect 8-0 in conference play.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• La Salle jumped out to an early 5-0 start thanks to back-to-back buckets from Kayla Spruill. Rhode Island put up just two points in response before the Explorers mounted another five to take a 10-2 lead over the Rams with 6:14 left in the quarter. The Rams put together an 8-0 over the next fives minutes to tie it at 10. An Amy Jacobs long ball gave the Explorers the advantage they needed to pull ahead 13-11 at the end of the first frame.
• Rhody held La Salle to just three points through the first four minutes of the second quarter and added 10 points to hold a five-point lead over the Explorers, 21-16. A 4-for-12 effort from the 3-point range including two straight from Molly Masciantonio and Claire Jacobs through the final minute of play pushed the Explorers back on top, 28-26, at the end of the half.
• The third quarter was a true back-and-forth battle between the teams evening the score five times throughout the frame. The Rams took a 4-0 run out of the frame to pull ahead by three heading into the final quarter, 49-46.
• The Explorers took back the lead, 54-53, once in the final frame thanks to two buckets by Amy Jacobs from the charity stripe at the 5:56 mark. La Salle kept the game in reach tying it up two more times over the ensuing two minutes, but a 6-0 run from Rhody through the final 1:22 put the Rams ahead, 66-60, to end the game.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Amy Jacobs and Spruill both ended the night in double-digits for the Explorers. Spruill totaled 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting including a 4-of-6 effort from deep and 3-of-3 from the line.
• Amy Jacobs totaled 13 points on 4-of-9 from the field, 3-of-7 from deep and 2-of-2 from the line. She added two steals and one block.
• The Explorers shot 35.9% from the long range overall including a 45.5% (5-of-11) performance in the third quarter.
• La Salle led once again led its opponent from the free throw line shooting 90.9% (10-of-11).
• The Rams won the battle at the boards 34-21 while the Explorers were better protectors of the rock turning the ball over 13 times to Rhody's 17.
• Rhode Island dominated off points in the paint, 40-2.

GAME NOTES:

• La Salle still holds the advantage in the all-time series against Rhode Island 29-10 and is now 13-5 when playing at home.
• Spruill's four buckets from deep marks the fourth contest and second consecutive this season that the senior has made four 3-pointers in a game. She has now recorded double figures in 16 contests this season.
• Five total Explorers sunk buckets from deep in the contest. Masciantonio's three are good for a season best while Amy Jacobs' four mark a new season best and tie her career best.
• The Explorers 14 3-pointers made marks a new single-game high in program history.
• La Salle has won the turnover battle in 15 of its games this season including the last three straight.

UP NEXT:

• The Explorers get a well-deserved break before hitting the road to take on Richmond for the second time this season on Sunday, Feb. 13 at 2 p.m.