Dec. 16, 2007

Box Score

CHESTNUT HILL, MA - The La Salle University Women's Basketball team had three players in double figures and held a double-digit lead in the middle of the second half, but Boston College held them scoreless for more than nine minutes and came back to defeat La Salle, 66-60, Sunday afternoon in non-conference action at the Conte Forum.

Looking to beat their first ACC opponent in more than 25 years, the Explorers jumped out to an early lead, scoring the game's first five points on a Jamie Walsh three and a lay-up by Melanie Gibbons. The Eagles would tie the game at 5-all after Brittanny Johnson's three-pointer just three minutes into the contest, but La Salle responded with a 17-4 run over the next eight minutes.

The run included Margaret Elderton converting a pair of free throws at the 14:03 mark, to give the Explorers a 12-7 lead - and marking each starter scoring in the game. Stefanie Murphy would cut the BC deficit to three, but La Salle rattled off 10 straight points started by back-to-back threes by Walsh and Ashley Gale. When Gale scored her eighth point of the half, on a 16-foot baseline jumper, the Explorers had their largest lead of the first at 13 points (22-9).

Boston College (8-3) went on a 5-0 run, stopped by Carlene Hightower's two made free throws another 5-0 run by the Eagles - which cut their deficit to five at 24-19 - again was stopped by Hightower, this time by a short jumper.

The teams traded baskets for the next five minutes before La Salle pushed its lead back to double figures. Hightower scored her 10th point of the half with a driving lay-up, then Walsh - who hit three first half threes - converted an old-fashion three with a hoop and a foul shot to put La Salle up 36-25 with 12 seconds left before the break.

However, Rebecca Miles hit a desperation three just before the buzzer to make it an eight-point halftime deficit for the Eagles and, out of the locker room, Johnson hit a jumper to make it a six-point game at 36-30.

Thanks to five points from Elderton in an 11-2 run, the Explorers pushed their lead back to double figures and when Alyse Hoover scored on a 10-foot jumper with 15 minutes left, La Salle had its largest lead of the game at 15 (47-32).

It was a 14-point lead after Elderton hit two more foul shots with 12:19 to play, but Boston College would then make its run. Mickel Picco hit three three-pointers in a BC 16-0 run and with Ayla Brown's basket at the 3:25 mark, Boston College took its first lead of the game at 55-53.

Walsh would end the scoring drought with a made three and a made foul shot at the 3:00 minute mark to put La Salle back up 57-55, but the Eagles scored 11 straight to make it a nine-point game, including a perfect eight-of-eight from the foul line to secure the victory.

Walsh ended the game with 16 points, while Elderton and Hightower each tallied 15. Murphy and Picco - who came off the bench - each scored 17 for the Eagles.

La Salle (3-6) stays on the road, flying to Orlando, FL Sunday night to take part in the Central Florida Classic on Wednesday - versus UNC-Greensboro - and Thursday - against Appalachian State - with both games tipping at 5 PM.