Philadelphia, PA - On a day dedicated to celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day and Pride Day, the La Salle women's basketball team came up short in a hard-fought Atlantic 10 contest, losing 68-60 to Dayton at John E. Glaser Arena. The Explorers battled through 13 lead changes and five ties, but ultimately dropped to 12-11 overall and 5-7 in conference play.

Ashleigh Connor paced the Explorers with 17 points, five assists and four rebounds, shooting 6-for-12 from the field and 5-for-6 at the line over 36 minutes. Aryss Macktoon registered a double-double, finishing with 10 points, 12 rebounds and two steals, including five offensive boards. Freshman Amiya Moses anchored the paint defensively with a career night, swatting seven shots in 20 minutes, while Joan Quinn chipped in 13 points and three assists.

Despite their defensive efforts, including eight team blocks and a strong interior presence, the Explorers were hampered by shooting just 35 percent from the floor and 15.4 percent from three-point range. Dayton capitalized on a 45-35 rebounding advantage and efficient shooting, making 42.1 percent of their attempts and 40 percent from beyond the arc. The Flyers' third-quarter surge proved decisive, outscoring La Salle 21-16 to break open a back-and-forth game.

La Salle returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 7, hosting Fordham at John E. Glaser Arena for WBB Alumni Day and Girl Scouts Day. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m., and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.