PHILADELPHIA – La Salle women's basketball fell at the hands of the Saint Joseph's Hawks 60-29 on Sunday afternoon to loss their fifth-straight game. The Explorers now sit at 7-18 overall and 4-10 in conference play.
 
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HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Today's first half proved to be almost a carbon copy to the first half that happened on Hawk Hill just a few weeks ago. The Explorers and Hawks went toe-for-toe on the defensive end of the floor making stop after stop.
• Talya Brugler scored within the first minute of the game for the Hawks, but that remained to be the only converted shot until the 4:04 mark in the first. Nicole Melious sunk a layup after Jolene Armendariz found her from across the other side of the court.
• Melious would give the Explorers the lead at 5-4 with a three-point shot, and then that was added on by a made free-throw from Molly Masciantonio. The score at the end of the first was 6-4 La Salle.
• The second quarter provided more offense and perhaps the most competitive quarter of play today. The Hawks jumped out early in the frame scoring six-straight points, but Makayla Miller broke that run with a driving layup.
• Down 13-9 with 6:07 left in the half, Armendariz made a huge three-point shot to bring La Salle within one point and keep the pressure on the Hawk offense.
• The teams would exchange offensive blows, with the Hawks remaining out in front, and then the final possession of the half was one of big nature to the Explorers. Miller found Armendariz with an expiring game-clock beyond the arch and Armendariz sunk the shot to send the teams to the break. The Hawks led 19-17.
• The third quarter was taken over immediately by St. Joe's their offense. Laura Ziegler, a quieter force in today's game, broke open the Hawk scoring run less than 30 seconds into the third.
• From there, SJU went on a 13-2 run in five minutes to begin to pull away from a struggling La Salle offense. Miller remained the only consistent piece on offense for La Salle as she willed the Blue & Gold to keep it close, the lead for SJU would be 39-26 at the end of the third.
• That was as close as the game would be the rest of the way. The Explorers would not make a shot in the final quarter from the field and were held to three points in total, thanks to a handful of Miller free-throws.

 
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• La Salle was held to fewer than 30 points in a game for the first time this season, along with a season-low three points in a quarter in 2023-24.
• The Explorers got offensive contributions from five players in today's game, almost half of which were from Miller.
• Beyond the arch shooting for La Salle has not been great as of late, especially today only making three long-range shots.
• On the boards, SJU outrebounded La Salle 43-27, Armendariz leading the Explorers with six herself.
• This is the second five-game losing streak of the season for La Salle, the last losing streak lasted eight games.

 
UP NEXT:

• La Salle will travel back down to Richmond on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 6:00 p.m., but this time for a meeting with the top team in the A-10 conference, Richmond Spiders.
• The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and can be followed using the live stats broadcast.