Three weeks ago, the Saint Louis University women’s basketball team looked to be on the ropes. The team had lost five straight games and was 1-7 in Conference USA
But SLU has turned things around as of late. The Billikens have won three of their last four games and stand at 4-8 in C-USA. SLU defeated UNC-Charlotte on Sunday, 61-54.
The teams stayed close throughout the first 10 minutes of the game. The score was 10-10 when SLU went on a quick 5-0 run to provide themselves breathing room.
But the 49ers came back and took a 19-18 lead with just under six minutes left in the half.
SLU ended the half on a 10-2 run and led the 49ers 28-21 at halftime. Christan Shelton scored four points and paced the run.
The Billikens used strong defense and a balanced offensive attack to build their lead. The Billikens held the 49ers to 36 percent shooting from the field and 25 percent shooting from behind the arc in the first half.
The Bills shot 41 percent from the field and outrebounded UNC Charlotte 25-11 in the first half. Nine of the 10 Bills who played scored in the half.
The Bills maintained their strong play as the second half began and built their lead to 13, five minutes into the half.
April McKinney scored four points and Melissa Oliver added a field goal to build SLU’s lead.
The 49ers chipped away at the Bills’ lead. Charlotte went on a 12-4 run to cut the Billikens lead to 40-35 midway through the second half.
UNCC continued to cut into the Bills’ lead and trailed by only two with eight minutes left in the game.
A trey by Mandy Lueking and a basket by Oliver pushed the Bills lead to 50-43 with five minutes left. The 49ers made one final push and closed SLU’s lead to four with three minutes to play.
Lueking hit eight free throws in a row in the final minute, to hold off the 49ers. The Bills prevailed 61-54.
SLU defense held UNC Charlotte to 35 percent shooting from the field and 14 percent from behind the arc in the game. The Bills outrebounded the 49ers 42-30.
Leuking and Oliver led the Bills with 13 points apiece.
McKinney scored eight points and Bridget Beckmann added seven points and pulled down nine rebounds.
Coach Jill Pizzotti said, “We played hard. Getting Melissa Oliver back and getting April McKinney healthy have made a difference. We’re a lot different team than we were a month ago. We executed and played hard. We’ve executed a lot better.”
The Bills go on the road for the final time this season, traveling to DePaul and Marquette this weekend.
“This is a big weekend for us. We’re taking it one game at a time and trying to get a `W’ each time out. The good thing about our league is that it is so strong. We have a chance for quality wins,” Pizzotti said.
SLU faces DePaul on Friday, Feb. 18.
“They shoot the three a lot- 25 times a game. And they have four or five girls that can shoot the three. Our ladies know that we can compete,” Pizzotti said.
The Billikens then travel to Marquette on Sunday, Feb. 20.
“Marquette is arguably the best team in the league. They have two of the best players in the league in Willenborg and Oldenburg,” Pizzotti stated.
