PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The La Salle women's basketball team led by as many as 16 points in the third quarter until George Mason creeped back up in the fourth to make it a two-point game when Charity Shears sunk a crucial three to seal the deal and help the Explorers to a 69-62 win over the Patriots.
 
La Salle improves to 10-8 overall and 1-2 in Atlantic 10 play. George Mason moves to 9-8 on the season and 2-2 in league play.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The threes were falling for the Explorers to start the game jumping out to an early 9-2 lead thanks to Claire Jacobs, Kayla Spruill and Molly Masciantonio. George Mason picked up the offensive effort taking a 6-1 run out of the media to jump ahead by a single-point, 13-12, with 2:19 remaining. The Explorers took an 8-0 out of the first frame to pull ahead by seven, 20-13.
• The Patriots came within one point of tying three times ultimately converting the layup to take just its second lead of the game, 31-30, into the second half.
• The teams traded buckets to begin the third quarter until the Explorers mounted a 9-0 run capped off with a Spruill three and quick catch and shoot layup from Mia Jacobs to take a 41-33 lead with 5:56 left in the frame. The Explorers allowed just three more points while building up a 16-point lead off 53.3% shooting from the field and 50% shooting from beyond the arc to end the quarter, 52-36.
• Mason wasted no time in the fourth chipping away at the Explorers' 16-point lead sinking its fourth 3-point bucket of the frame to come within two points with just 1:03 remaining. After a scoreless minute Masciantonio found Shears on the wing for the decisive bucket from downtown to put the Patriots out of reach and secure the win for the Explorers.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• The threes were raining for the Explorers who shot 46.2% (12-of-26) from beyond the arc, just one bucket shy of tying the team's season-high 3-point buckets made (13). Six different Explorers converted from the long range in the game with Claire Jacobs leading the charge shooting 50% (4-of-8).
• Claire Jacobs led the overall scoring effort with an 18-point performance off 6-of-14 from the field, 4-of-8 from three and 2-of-4 from the free throw.
• Mia Jacobs ended the game in the double-digit category with 14 points from a 4-of-5 effort from the field including a 100% (2-of-2) effort from the long range and 100% (4-of-4) from the charity stripe.
• Masciantonio recorded a season-high 14 points off 5-of-9 from the field, 2-of-4 from the 3-point range and 2-of-2 from the foul line. The point guard added seven assists while recording just one turnover and two steals.

GAME NOTES:

• Claire Jacobs has now recorded her 13^th game this season in double-digits. The game marks the fifth time she has hit four 3-pointers in the game, a season high.
• Mia Jacobs has now hit 10-plus six games including the last two straight. She has now sunk at least four buckets from the charity stripe in a game for the eighth time this season.
• Masciantonio's 14 points marks a new season-high and sits just two points away from her career-high of 16. She tied her season-high in 3-point field goals made (2) and set a new mark in field goals (5).
• This marks the 11^th game where at least three Explorers have reached double-digits and the second-straight.
• Spruill's two 3-point buckets puts her just 11 away from tying the all-time program record of 208.
• La Salle is now 11-4 in the all-time series against George Mason and 7-2 when playing at home. The Explorers have now won the last six matchups against the Patriots.

UP NEXT:

• La Salle will return to Tom Gola Arena at TruMark Financial Center this Saturday, Jan. 14 to face George Washington at 12 p.m. on Alumni Day. The game will be presented by SteamFitters 420.
• Alumni are encouraged to register for the post-game reception in the Hideaway at Blue & Gold Commons through the link here.