“In [the Atlantic-10], we had the hardest non-conference schedule, and that’s paying off now,” Francis said.

Other elements have contributed to the team’s success as well, including maturity and overall improvement.

All these factors will be key if the Billikens are going to navigate through the remainder of their schedule as they penetrate deep into conference play. Tough games against Charlotte, Temple and George Washington loom on the horizon; however, the Billikens appear to be ready for these tests.

The first two-thirds of the Saint Louis University women’s basketball season could be compared to a seesaw, full of ups and downs. The Billikens’ season thus far has been markedly inconsistent-so far, the team’s longest streak, winning or losing, stands at three games.

But despite the inconsistent play and a 10-11 record, the team is upbeat.

“We’re all excited. We’ve shown glimpses of how good we can be and we’re confident we can raise our level of play,” junior Theresa Lisch said.

Much of this excitement is due to a recent upswing in the Billikens’ play. They have won five of their last seven games, earning them a winning record in Atlantic-10 conference play. The Billikens’ most recent victory came against St. Joseph’s, the team that beat SLU last season in the A-10 tournament.

“It was a really good win. It’s the first time any of the players on our team beat St. Joseph’s,” Lisch said.

Assistant Coach Tony Francis also saw the win against St. Joseph’s as a special occasion.

“This was the most important game thus far,” Francis said.

Another reason for the recently-improved play of the Billikens may be attributed to the difficult non-conference schedule. The Billikens faced some tough, non-conference opponents, including No. 2 Oklahoma, which allowed them to gain valuable experience.

“Our kids are expecting to win now,” Francis said.

While the Billikens have improved, they must continue to do so if they are to continue to win games and meet their goals.

“We would like to finish in the top four of our conference to get a first-round bye in the tournament, but we definitely want to finish in the top half of our conference,” Francis said.

With the confidence the Billikens have been building, this goal is definitely achievable, especially with players like Lisch, who is leading the Atlantic-10 in scoring. Lisch is averaging more than 20 points per game and is leading the second-leading scorer on her team by a margin ofmore than four points per game.

“It goes without saying what her ability on the court has meant,” Francis said.

Lisch, however, is reluctant to acknowledge her accolades.

“It’s nice, but individual awards are not my top priority. I just want to help the team win games.”

Lisch and the rest of the Billikens will get a chance to continue their winning ways this Saturday at 1 p.m. against Massachusetts on the road. It’s an opportunity for them to continue their ascent in the A-10 standings.