PHILADELPHIA - Shanel Harrison's
3-pointer at the buzzer gave La Salle a 49-46 Atlantic 10 Conference victory
over Saint Louis Wednesday afternoon at Tom Gola Arena.
Harrison
banked in her game-winning shot just moments after a 3-pointer by Jacy Bradley, who
led SLU with 17 points, tied the game at 46.
Bradley
added game highs of five assists and three steals. Desirae Ball had
13 points and three assists, while Mallory Eggert
narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and a game-high nine rebounds.
The Billikens topped the Explorers 37-32 on the boards.
Harrison
scored a game-high 23 points, including 21 in the second half, and grabbed six
rebounds. Siobhan Beslow collected seven rebounds, and Jordan Mosley recorded
four assists.
The
Billikens (10-14, 4-5 A-10) owned a 13-point first-half cushion but saw La
Salle (8-16, 4-5 A-10) gradually work its way back into the game. The Explorers
trailed by five at halftime, then began the second half with a 14-7 run to take
a 28-26 edge.
Saint
Louis responded with an 11-4 spurt that began with Bradley's 10-foot jumper in
the lane. Ball's fast-break layup put the Billikens back on top, 30-28.
After
La Salle tied it, Eggert sank a free throw and Courtney Webb drove
the baseline for a reverse layup to give the Bills a 33-30 edge. SLU answered
another Explorer basket with an Eggert layup and Bradley's fast-break layup for
a 37-32 advantage.
La
Salle quickly pulled even with Harrison's three-point play and a layup by
Karynda Dupree. Harrison followed a bucket by Ball with another three-point
play to put the Explorers on top 40-39.
Two
Bradley free throws vaulted Saint Louis back into the lead, and Ball's
fast-break layup increased the advantage to 43-40. La Salle scored the next six
points but missed four of six free-throw attempts down the stretch, leaving the
door open for Bradley's game-tying trey with 4.6 seconds left.
After
La Salle took an early 3-2 lead, Saint Louis scored 17 of the next 20 points to
go on top 19-6. However, the Explorers - who made just two of their first 21
shots - sank their final three attempts of the half to narrow the Billiken
advantage to 19-14 at intermission.
La
Salle's 14 first-half points are the fewest registered by a SLU opponent in any
half this season. The Explorers are the ninth opponent this season the
Billikens have held to fewer than 50 points, one game shy of the school record.
The Billikens return to action at home Sunday, Feb.
17, against Fordham. Tip time at Chaifetz Arena is 1 p.m.
