La Salle women bounced from A-10 tournament as late comeback against George Washington falls short
The Colonials pulled off an upset against the Explorers at the Atlantic 10 tournament.
La Salle University's bench reacts in the final minutes of the game against George Washington University, during the Atlantic 10 women's basketball tournament at Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, DE. Thursday, March 3, 2022.Read moreJose F. Moreno/ Staff Photographer
by Siobahn Nolan, For The Inquirer
Published
La Salle and George Washington engaged in a hard-fought battle during the women’s basketball Atlantic 10 tournament at Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, but the Explorers’ season (barring an NIT bid or a CBA bid) ended with 64-54 loss.
The Explorers and Colonials started off going blow-for-blow, but 12th-seeded George Washington quickly took control of the game, ending the first quarter with a 16-9 lead. It was as unbalanced as a first half could get. George Washington couldn’t seem to miss a shot, while fifth-seeded La Salle struggled to make one. La Salle’s Kayla Spruill and Claire Jacobs were subjected to tough defense by 5-foot-2 guard Kyara Frames (14 points) and 5-10 guard Sheslanie Laureano (12 points), who both led the Colonials in scoring.
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Spruill, the Explorers’ leading scorer this season, recorded 11 points against the Colonials. Molly Masciantonio led La Salle with 16 points and teammate Gabby Crawford chipped in 10.
“They shot the lights out on us, and we struggled shooting the ball,” La Salle coach Mountain MacGillivray said. “We were a little tight.”
La Salle University, Gabby Crawford, drives to the basket against George Washington,Taylor Webster, during the 2nd quarter of the Atlantic 10 women's basketball tournament at Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, DE. Thursday, March 3, 2022.Read moreJose F. Moreno/ Staff Photographer
La Salle University, Gabby Crawford battles for a loose ball against George Washington University, Sheslanie Laureano, during the Atlantic 10 women's basketball tournament at Chase Fieldhouse.Read moreJose F. Moreno/ Staff Photographer
La Salle University, Gabby Crawford, shoots over George Washington, Kyara Frames, during the 2nd quarter of the Atlantic 10 women's basketball tournament at Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, DE. Thursday, March 3, 2022.Read moreJose F. Moreno/ Staff Photographer
La Salle University, Molly Masciantonio, center, and Claire Jacobs, left, defend against George Washington University, Faith Blethen, during the 2nd quarter of the Atlantic 10 women's basketball tournament.Read moreJose F. Moreno/ Staff Photographer
La Salle University Claire Jacobs, shoots against George Washington University, Taylor Websterm during the 2nd quarter of the Atlantic 10 women's basketball tournament at Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, DE. Thursday, March 3, 2022.Read moreJose F. Moreno/ Staff Photographer
La Salle University, Amy Jacobs, right, battles for a loose ball against George Washington, Essence Brown, during the 1st quarter of the Atlantic 10 women's basketball tournament at Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, DE. Read moreJose F. Moreno/ Staff Photographer
La Salle University, Kenya Cote-Lysius, 1, left, defends against George Washington, Sierra Bell, during the 2nd quarter of the Atlantic 10 women's basketball tournament at Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, DE.Read moreJose F. Moreno/ Staff Photographer
La Salle University, Molly Masciantonio, drives to the basket against George Washington University, during the 2nd quarter of the Atlantic 10 women's basketball tournament at Chase Fieldhouse.Read moreJose F. Moreno/ Staff Photographer
La Salle University, Molly Masciantonio, shoots a free throw against George Washington University, during the 2nd quarter of the Atlantic 10 women's basketball tournament at Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, DERead moreJose F. Moreno/ Staff Photographer
La Salle University head coach, Mountain MacGillivray gestures during a play against George Washington in the1st quarter of the Atlantic 10 women's basketball tournament at Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, DE. Read moreJose F. Moreno/ Staff Photographer
La Salle University Claire Jacobs, goes up for a layup against George Washington University during the 1st quarter of the Atlantic 10 women's basketball tournament at Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, DE. Thursday, March 3, 2022.Read moreJose F. Moreno/ Staff Photographer
La Salle University's players react at the bench in the final minutes of the game against George Washington University, Read moreJose F. Moreno/ Staff Photographer
In general, La Salle looked weary and listless throughout the game and trailed by as many as 17 points.
Once the George Washington players sensed an upset, they kept the pressure on. The Explorers (16-12) had beaten the Colonials (13-17) five days earlier on the road in the regular-season finale, but it didn’t matter Thursday.
Despite trailing for most of the game, La Salle managed to rally in the final quarter, outscoring GW, 21-17, but it wasn’t enough.
