ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The La Salle women's basketball team held the lead through the majority of the game, but a fourth-quarter comeback from Saint Louis made the difference with the Explorers dropping the contest 74-63 on Sunday afternoon.


The Explorers fall to 16-12 on the season and 7-6 in Atlantic 10 play. The Billikens improve to 12-17 overall and 8-6 in conference play.
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Billikens took an early lead with a 4-0 run but a Charity Shears three ball at the 6:40 mark gave the Explorers their first lead of the game, 9-8. Another huge Shears three and Kayla Spruill jumper at the buzzer put La Salle ahead by seven to end the first half, 19-12.
• Saint Louis built up a comeback tying the game three times in the final three minutes of the half with Spruill answering back with a huge 3-pointer at the 1:30 mark to put the Explorers back in a three-point lead, 33-30. La Salle sent the Billikens to the line in the final seconds sinking 1-of-2 to cut the deficit it two at the end of the first half, 33-31.
• The Explorers were sent to the line early to start the second half with Molly Masciantonio and Spruill shooting 4-of-4 to pull ahead by six, 37-31. A short 5-0 run for the Billikens brought them back within one, 39-38, answered with a Jaye Haynes three-pointer two minutes later to put La Salle back ahead by six, with 3:14 left. A layup for SLU tied it up with the Billikens earning the foul on the play making the and one opportunity to take its first lead since the first quarter. SLU took a 6-0 run out of the frame for the 52-46 lead heading into the final 10 minutes of the game.
• La Salle found its grove with a 6-0 run through the first 1:30 to tie it up, 52-52, and force a Saint Louis timeout. SLU jumped back out by two before a 7-0 spurt for the Explorers highlighted by a Masciantonio three put La Salle back ahead by five, 59-54, with 6:09 to go. SLU tied to once more before sinking a three ball to start an 11-0 run to pull ahead by nine, 70-61, with 58 seconds remaining. The Billikens held the 4-2 edge through the final minute for the 74-63 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Spruill led the game with 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting including 1-of-4 from three and 2-of-2 from the foul line. She finished the game just one rebound shy of a double-double pulling down a team-high nine boards.
• Shears put up a big game for La Salle with 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting including 2-of-7 from beyond the arc and 2-of-2 from the foul line.
• Claire Jacobs led the steal efforts for the Explorers with a team-high five.
• La Salle shot 100% from the line sinking 7-of-7.
• The Explorers won the turnover battle 18-21, but dropped the battle at the boards 30-41.

GAME NOTES:

• La Salle is now 8-11 in the all-time series with the Billikens and 2-6 when playing on the road. The loss snaps and single-game win streak in the series for La Salle and extends the Billikens' 13-year advantage over the Explorers at home.
• Spruill's double-digit performance marked her third straight and 15^th this season.
• The contest marks the third this season that the Explorer have shot 100% from the line.
• The contest marks Shear's 10^th in double digits.
• This marks the first contest this season where the Explorers have given up a halftime lead. La Salle is now 13-1 when leading after the first 20 minutes.

UP NEXT:

• The Explorers will head to Ohio to face Dayton this Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m.