PHILADELPHIA - Vivien Nejašmic scored a game-high 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds as the La Salle women's basketball team earned its first win of the season, defeating Loyola Maryland 69-61 Saturday afternoon.
Tiana Thompson added 15 points, five rebounds and four assists for the Explorers (1-1). Amiya Moses pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds off the bench, including 10 on the offensive glass, and blocked two shots. Joanie Quinn finished with eight points, seven steals and five assists, while Olivia Ostoni added six points and six steals.
La Salle erased a five-point halftime deficit with a 21-point third quarter. Nejašmić scored on consecutive possessions to start a 10-0 run, and Emilia Coleman put the Explorers in front with a layup off a Thompson assist. Ostoni capped the run with a three-point play to make it 41-36. The teams entered the fourth tied at 50.
With the score tied again at 59, Moses found Quinn for the go-ahead layup with 2:10 remaining. Quinn added two free throws, and after Loyola pulled within two, Moses scored inside with 26 seconds left to push the lead to 65-61. Kiara Williams and Quinn sealed the win at the line.
The Explorers finished with 20 steals and turned 25 Loyola turnovers into 28 points. La Salle also grabbed 26 offensive rebounds and outscored the Greyhounds 19-11 in the fourth quarter.
