While most students were home eating turkey to their heart’s
content, the Saint Louis University women’s basketball team has
been busy winning five out of their first six games. The Bills
started off the season with a win against Bradley 62-55, but fell
to Miami-Ohio 92-72 three days later. Over the Thanksgiving weekend
the Bills hosted and won the Coca-Cola Billiken Classic defeating
both Stony Brook 71-62 and the University of Arkansas-Little Rock
72-67. Finally, SLU barely brushed past Loyola on Tuesday with a
68-63 win.

The Bills came away with the win against Bradley after
struggling much of the game. In the second half ,Bradley jumped out
to an eight point advantage within the first two minutes.

The Bills began to reverse course and were able to take the lead
back with a little under ten minutes in the game, but with a pair
of turnovers that Bradley capitalized on they were able to take the
lead back 51-50 with 5:34 left.

The game kept going back and forth until senior guard Kirsti
Holloway sank her second three pointer of the day. Bradley then
turned the ball over and Angie Lewis converted on the basket.

“I’ve said that the three seniors have to come each night and
show up ready to play. Kirsti came ready to play and it showed,”
said coach Pizzotti.

The Bills tried to stall the ball for the rest of the game, but
sealed the win when freshman Yanique Javois made a three-point-play
when she made her lay-in with a foul and sank her free-throw as
well. The Bills won 62-55. Stephanie Solomon had 18 points, Lewis
had 17 and Holloway added 12.

“Kirsti was a big help in this game. She stepped up in all
areas, and she played all 40 minutes and showed her desire to win,”
coach Pizzotti said.

At the SLU-hosted Coca Cola Billiken Classic, the Bills won
their first game against Stony Brook. Early on, the first half was
tied at 13-13 and SLU did not score for five minutes while Stony
Brook took a 10-point lead. Javois added points to the board with
some free throws and Holloway had seven points in the last three
minutes of the half, but Stony Brook was up 35-28.

In the second half, the Bills upped the defensive pressure and
slowly fought back. The game was tied at 60 until Lewis hit a shot
and the Billikens were up for good. Lewis then had another basket
and Holloway sank four free throws to seal the win.

The Bills then went on to play in the championship game of their
Classic and was able to pull off the win against the University of
Arkansas-Little Rock 72-67. The Bills were down at the half, 37-24
due to foul trouble by the post players.

In the second half the Trojans had the first two baskets, to put
the lead at 17. The Bills however took most of the half to rally
back and at the 6:10 mark Lewis tied the game at 56. The Bills
briefly took the lead only to have it tied again at 59. Lewis then
had a lay-in and the Bills held onto the lead for good. Holloway
had 15 points and tournament MVP and Solomon added 14 points of her
own.

The Bills were able to pull out yet another win, this time
against Loyola 68-63. In the first half SLU was up 18-8 at the
11:00 minute mark, but Loyola answered with a 7-0 run but the Bills
came back and the first half ended 33-27, the first time this
season the Bills have gone into the locker room with the lead.

The Bills tried to keep the lead, but The Ramblers continued to
chip away at the lead until with four minutes remaining they were
only down 63-61. With 21 seconds left Solomon hit two free throws
to make the score 67-63. Holloway then sank one free throw to end
the game 68-63. Lewis had a career high 30, points and Solomon had
a double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds. The Bills record is
now 5-1.

Billikens Head West

Who: Texas-Pan American

When: Tomorrow, 7 p.m.
Where: Kansas State Invitational, Manhattan, Kan.