PHILADELPHIA – Explorers women's basketball dropped the final non-conference game of the season to the Villanova Wildcats Thursday afternoon 74-60. Graduate student Molly Masciantonio secured her 1,000^th career point in today's contest.
 
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SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:

• The game started with a lot of defense, a feeling out period by both teams. Masciantonio broke open the scoring for La Salle from deep range, hitting a three to cut the Villanova lead to three.
• Lucy Olsen opened the game proving why she is the Wildcat's leading scorer and by the end of the first quarter she totaled six points.
• Villanova started to pull away from La Salle in the second quarter. Christina Dalce and Bella Runyan both contributed on the offensive end for the Wildcats.
• Masciantonio ended the first half with 13 points, getting her one-point shy of the 1,000-point mark for her collegiate career.
• Beginning the second half of play, La Salle would not go down without a fight. Hailey Chiles broke open the scoring with a layup in the paint to get the Explorers within 15.
• Gabby Turco continues to provide offensively for the Explorers, drawing fouls and sinking free throws, and she did just that in the third quarter.
• With 3:02 left in the third quarter, Masciantonio made history. She dribbled the ball from the top of the key to the elbow and sunk a pull up jump shot for her 1,000^th career point.
• Even though the Wildcats started the fourth with a 15-point lead, the Explorers fought back, kick-started by a Tiara Bolden three-pointer.
•  A pair of pull up jump shots from Turco and Jolene Armendariz kept La Salle close, bringing them within 14. With 3:36 remaining in the fourth Bolden sunk a deep three-point shot, bringing her game total up to 11 and the Explorers within 11 points.
• Back-and-forth offensive possessions by both teams kept it competitive down the stretch, but Turco sunk her second three to cut the Villanova lead to ten.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Masciantonio has now totaled 641 career points during her time at La Salle, a remarkable stat considering her strong ability to pass and distribute the ball. In 2018-19 she spent a season at Holy Family University and collected 360 points.
• Bolden tied her career-high in three-point shots made today with three. She went 3-3 from beyond the arch, her most efficient game in that category.
• Turco totaled her second highest point total today, finishing the game with 14 points.
• La Salle had solid contributions from the bench today getting 30 points in all.

 
UP NEXT:

• La Salle will begin Atlantic 10 conference play next Saturday on the road against the George Mason Patriots. The game will tip at 6:00 p.m. on ESPN+.