The Saint Louis University women’s basketball team went on the road searching for an identity after a tumultuous start to its Atlantic 10 Conference slate. Many critics expected a guaranteed loss, given the Billikens’ road-play in recent memory.
Instead of folding in a tough road game, the Billikens recorded their first Atlantic 10 Conference victory of the season with a decisive 72-67 victory on Sunday, Jan. 28, at Rhode Island.
The win was the first conference road triumph by a Billiken team since the 2003 squad stole a 76-63 win against East Carolina. With the win, the Billikens improved to 9-12 overall and improved their conference record to 1-6.
The Billikens were paced by freshman Katie Paganelli, whose 27 points proved crucial en route to the SLU victory.
Paganelli got off to a hot start with an early three-pointer to give the Billikens a 5-4 lead. Fellow freshman Amy Klotz added a bucket and the Bills pulled ahead, 7-4.
The action heated up as Rhode Island fought back to take a 9-7 lead.
Senior Tyler McIlwraith drained two free-throws to tie the game and, moments later, fellow senior Rachel Taylon nailed a baseline jumper to put the Billikens ahead 11-9. With just less than eight minutes left in the first half, Paganelli caught fire again, connecting on two more clutch three-pointers to stretch the Billiken lead to 19-14.
Though the Rams managed to tie the game at 19-19, the Bills refused to give up the lead as Paganelli poured in four more points to secure a 23-19 lead.
Both teams went back and forth to end the half, keeping the game close. Junior Hayley Leake chipped in four points of her own and the Billikens went into halftime ahead, 30-29.
The second half picked up where the previous one left off.
Both teams refused to give any ground during the first five minutes.
Again, Paganelli’s play proved crucial as she poured in a clutch basket to break a 39-39 tie and tacked on another three-pointer to stretch the Billikens’ lead to 44-39.
The Billikens began to pull away after Paganelli and McIlwraith both converted two free-throws to advance the lead to 48-41 with just less than 10 minutes left in the second half.
Before the Billikens could pull away, however, the Rams managed one last run, scoring eight of the next 10 points to pull with four points at 53-49.
The Billikens managed to hold on, capitalizing on late free-throws to keep Rhode Island’s late comeback efforts out of reach.
In the last minute alone, the Billikens converted seven free-throws.
Paganelli’s 27 points led four Billikens, who scored in double figures.
Klotz chipped in 14 points, Leake added 12 points and McIlwraith managed 11 points. Klotz also paced the Billikens with eight rebounds.
The Billikens look to use their newfound momentum as they begin a three-game home stand starting Saturday, when they play host to Charlotte at 7 p.m. in the Bauman-Eberhardt Center.
