PHILADELPHIA - Saint Joseph's women's basketball team's comeback at La Salle fell short as the Hawks fell to the Explorers, 75-70, Wednesday afternoon at Tom Gola Arena.

Down by 10 to start the fourth quarter, the Hawks scored the first six points of the period as a senior Ciara Andrews scored four of her team-best 18 points in helping her team come within 59-55 on a jumper with eight minutes to go. 

La Salle pushed its lead back to nine, but SJU answered to make it a two-point game, 68-66, on an Andrews long jump shot with 42 seconds to play.

Unfortunately for the Hawks, that would be as close as they'd get as the Explorers' Amy Griffin scored the final five of her game-high 33 points in the final seconds to even SJU's Big 5 record at 2-2.

For the game, Saint Joseph's shot 36.1 percent from the field (26-of-72), hit 5-of-8 from three-point range, but converted just 13-of-22 from the foul line (59.1 percent).

Sophomore Chelsea Woods added 13 points and four assists and was joined in doubles figures by Kathleen Fitzpatrick with 12 points and five assists. Senior Sarah Fairbanks had 12 points and matched Amanda Fioravanti with nine rebounds to finish tied for the team lead.

At the other end, La Salle shot 40.9 percent overall (27-of-66), hit 4-of-15 from behind the arc (26.7 percent) and went 17-of-24 from the foul line (70.8 percent). Griffin led four Explorers in double figures with a career-high 33 points.

Saint Joseph's (11-14, 5-8 Atlantic 10) returns to action this Saturday when it hosts Rhode Island at 2 p.m. The Hawks will honor their senior class with a postgame ceremony.

Game Notes: SJU finished with a 50-41 edge in rebounding...Andrews will enter Saturday one point shy of 1,000 for her career.