PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — Aryss Macktoon scored 18 points and La Salle capitalized on a decisive edge in points off turnovers to defeat Fordham 70-53 in an Atlantic 10 Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Tom Gola Arena.

The Explorers, improving to 13-11 overall, forced 24 Fordham turnovers and converted them into 24 points, a stark contrast to the six points the Rams managed from La Salle’s miscues. That defensive pressure was the foundation for a victory where La Salle led for all but the opening 90 seconds.

Macktoon, a 5-foot-10 guard from Baltimore, added four rebounds and four assists in 34 minutes, orchestrating the La Salle offense. She was one of four Explorers to score in double figures. Joan Quinn of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, contributed 13 points, six rebounds and three assists, while Ashleigh Connor of Pittsburgh scored 11. Ivona Miljanic of Belgrade, Serbia, chipped in eight points, four rebounds and four assists.

Fordham, which fell to 9-15, was led by Alexis Black’s 14 points. Anastasija Veljovic of Mississauga, Canada, just missed a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.

The most important stretch of the game came late in the second quarter, when La Salle extended a manageable lead into a commanding one. Leading 28-24, the Explorers embarked on a 12-2 run over the final 4:40 of the half. The surge was fueled by their defensive identity, as consecutive Fordham turnovers led directly to five quick points. Sania Jenkins capped the half with a 3-pointer off a Kiara Williams assist, sending La Salle into the locker room with a 36-26 advantage.

Fordham never threatened that lead in the second half. The Rams closed to within eight points on a Maysen Hill 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter, making it 56-48. La Salle responded immediately with an 8-0 run over the next two minutes, a sequence bookended by jumpers from Macktoon and Williams, to push the lead to 64-48 and effectively seal the game.

La Salle set the tone early, opening the game on an 8-2 run and ending the first quarter with an 18-11 lead. The Explorers maintained at least a seven-point cushion throughout the second and third quarters before pulling away in the final period.

The game was a reversal of the teams’ first meeting this season on Dec. 31, which La Salle won 72-69. The Explorers have now won five of their last seven games. Fordham has lost three straight and six of its last seven.

La Salle finished with 30 points in the paint, narrowly edged by Fordham’s 32, but the Explorers’ 10-for-22 shooting from 3-point range provided crucial spacing. Fordham struggled from deep, making just 3 of 17 attempts.

The attendance was 515.

La Salle next travels to face George Washington on Feb. 14. Fordham visits Saint Louis on Feb. 11.

Interstat’s ELO system had projected La Salle with a 72.50 percent probability to win.