Kayla Spruill hits the game-winner in the Explorers’ win over Drexel

La Salle and Drexel traded baskets until the end, but the Explorers earned their third victory, 77-74, in women’s basketball action Tuesday at Tom Gola Arena.

La Salle (3-1) was dominant in the paint thanks to Kayla Spruill, who led the Explorers with 24 points and five rebounds. The Explorers also saw double-digit points from Claire Jacobs (14 points) and Gabby Crawford (11 points). Charity Shears, who also added 11, finished 3-of-6 from beyond the arc.

Kylie Lavelle kept the Dragons close throughout as the freshman led Drexel with 31 points. Keishana Washington added 16.

Drexel (1-1) pulled away early, pushing its largest lead to nine points.

“I thought, physically, we had the more talented team on the floor,” said La Salle coach Mountain MacGillivray. “But Drexel’s so well-coached ... they executed the heck out of us in the first quarter.”

Midway through the second quarter, La Salle moved to a zone defense and overcame a first-quarter deficit to take a 42-36 lead into halftime. The game remained tight throughout the third, both teams getting into foul trouble in a turnover-filled contest — the Explorers finished with 21; the Dragons with 15.

“We’re still not quite playing basketball the La Salle way,” MacGillivray said regarding his team’s inability to keep possession. “In almost every game, we’ve turned the ball over more than our opponents. ... I was pleased over the first three games and the way we rebounded. Tonight, not so much. ... It’s taking care of the ball and then turning our opponent over.”

Within 36 seconds of each other in the third quarter, Washington got into foul trouble and La Salle’s Molly Masciantonio fell to the court, holding her wrapped right calf. Both players left the floor, leaving room for others to step up and for one team to capitalize in the final quarter.

“Fine,” MacGillivray said regarding Masciantonio’s injury. “I think the doctor said structurally, she’s pretty good. So she’s hurt. There is pain there for sure, but she’s a tough kid. She’s going to find a way to fight through it.”

La Salle led, 56-51, after three quarters, but Drexel tied it at 66 with less than 4 minutes to play in the fourth, with Washington back in.

With 2 seconds to go, Spruill made a jumper, drawing Washington’s fifth foul, and completed a three-point play.

“An exciting finish. It was just the way I drew it up on the board there. No, it wasn’t,” MacGillivray said with a laugh. “They found a way. So, [I’m] just really, really proud of their mental toughness.”

The Explorers take flight to the Great Alaska Shootout starting Friday (9:15 p.m.) against Pepperdine followed by UC Riverside or host Alaska Anchorage on Saturday. Drexel hosts Maryland-Eastern Shore at 2 p.m. Saturday.