EASTON, Pa. – Sophomore guard Abby Antognoli scored 19 points to lead three Lafayette players in double figures in a 71-54 home loss to La Salle on Tuesday night.
 
For Antognoli, it was season-high performance on 7-of-17 shooting while making all four of her free throws. Antognoli joined senior Jess Booth and freshman Sauda Ntaconayigize in double figures, contributing 11 apiece (both season-highs).
 
La Salle used a balanced scoring attack led by 16 points each from Kayla Sprulli and Gabby Crawford and received 50 points off the bench as the La Salle coaching staff often subbed five players in at a time. Rebounding proved to be big advantage for the Explorers as the Atlantic 10 squad out-rebounded Lafayette 57-40 with Mia Jacobs pulling down 11 to lead the way. Makayla Andrews had eight caroms for the Leopards.
 
The game was even through the first quarter with Lafayette ahead 15-12, but the visitors broke open things in the second quarter, outscoring Lafayette 24-11. The game was tied 21-21 with five minutes left before intermission when La Salle pushed on a 15-5 run to close out the half. Sprulli hit a pair of three's and added a fast-break bucket to fuel the run that gave La Salle a 10-point halftime margin 36-26.
 
In the second half, La Salle extended its lead to as many as 18 (49-27) at 5:09 in the third on a bucket off one of the Leopards' 20 turnovers.
 
In the fourth quarter, Lafayette pulled within 11 (63-52) with three minutes left in the game when Booth converted a pair of free throws after being fouled on a breakaway. That was as close as the Maroon and White could inch in the 71-54 final.
 
Lafayette had a cold shooting night, hitting 29 percent from the floor and 21 percent from long distance compared to 37 percent and 23 percent, respectively for the Explorers.
 
Lafayette will take a few days off for the Thanksgiving break and will travel to Marist on Sunday for a 2 p.m. tip.