PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle women's basketball team defeated VCU on Saturday afternoon, winning by a score of 61-60 on Senior Day. Sophomore Aryss Macktoon led the Explorers with 18 points and a caeer-high eight steals. The Explorers overcame an 11-point deficit in the second half to get the win. Prior to the game, the Explorers honored graduate students Jolene Armendariz and Mackenzie Daleba.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Explorers got off to a strong start, beginning the game on a 9-2 run. Macktoon made a pair of baskets, and Armedariz capped off the run with a three.
• VCU responded with a run of its own to end the first down 10-9.
• In the second quarter, the frame started with the teams trading shots and the lead. Armendariz paced the Explorers' scoring with a pair of triples.
• The visitors scored 11 of the last 12 points of the half to turn a deficit into a 10-point lead entering the break.
• To start the second half, both teams exchanged made baskets. A made jumper by the visitors put VCU up 11 with 6:06 left.
• Seven points by Armendariz in the final 5:14 of the quarter brought the Explorers within four entering the final quarter.
• After the visitors scored the first five points in the fourth, La Salle went on an 8-1 run to cut VCU's lead to three. Redshirt sophomore Ashleigh Connor scored half of those points in that span.
• Down 56-51 inside the final four minutes, a three-pointer by freshman Joan Quinn and a layup by junior Ayisse Magassa knotted the score at 56 with 3:08 left.
• The Explorers got their first lead of the half when Macktoon got a steal and went end-to-end with a layup and-one with 2:35 left to put La Salle up 59-56. She later made a tip-in with 1:02 to keep the Explorers ahead by three.
• VCU trimmed it to one with 39 seconds left and had one last chance, but a last second jumper fell short, giving the Blue and Gold the win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Macktoon recorded a career-high in steals with eight, tied a season-high in rebounds (9) and assists (4), and played all 40 minutes for the first time in her collegiate career.
• Armendariz got four threes in the game, her third game this season with at least that many made three-pointers.
• Led by Macktoon, the team recorded 13 total steels, its sixteenth game this season with 10 or more steals.

 
NEXT UP
The Explorers will play in the Atlantic 10 Tournament at the Henrico Sports and Events Center in Henrico, Va.