Jenna Mueller hit a jumper with one second left on the clock to help Saint Louis University to a one-point win over Duquesne University at home 56-55 to earn their second victory in conference play.
The Billikens improved to 8-15 overall and 2-6 in the Atlantic 10 Conference, whereas the Duquesne Dukes fell to 15-8 overall and 3-5 in the conference standings.
“This was the biggest win of the season for us,” SLU Head Coach Shimmy Gray-Miller said to SLU Athletics. “We didn’t just beat anybody. We beat one of the top teams in the Atlantic 10 Conference. We out-worked, out-played and out-toughed Duquesne from beginning to end.”
Coach Gray-Miller added, “It wasn’t just one person. Everyone stepped up and made big plays for us when we needed stops, rebounds or points. I really feel like we are going to turn the corner for these last six games and finish strong.”
The Billikens raced out to a 10-2 lead. The Dukes responded with a 15-2 run to take the lead by forcing turnovers through a full court press. Following a 30-second timeout, the Billikens answered with back-to-back threes by Webb and Johnson to regain the lead 18-17. The teams entered halftime tied at 23-23.
In the first half, SLU shot 29 percent from the field on seven of 24 attempts, but 50 percent from beyond the arc on four of eight attempts.
Similarly, Duquense shot 23 percent on six of 26 attempts, but missed all five of its three-point attempts. SLU out-rebounded the Dukes by nine, but it was negated by SLU’s nine extra turnovers. The Billikens made five of six attempts.
The Dukes opened the second half on an 8-2 run followed by a 6-0 run by the Billikens to tie the game at 33.
From the 14:43 mark, the game went back-and-forth with 14 lead changes and six ties that made for a climactic finish.
Duquesne claimed a 55-54 lead on Agunbiade’s shot with 15 seconds left. On SLU’s final possession, Jones attempted the first shot and missed, but Jamesia Price was in position and tipped the rebound to Jenna Muller, who made the game-winning shot.
In the second half, SLU and Duquesne both shot an identical 52 percent from the field on 13 of 25 attempts, including 50 percent from beyond the arc. SLU retained the rebounding differential, but Duquesne turned the ball over four fewer times than the Billikens Overall, SLU shot just over 40 percent for the field on the game, 50 percent from beyond the arc and 77 percent from the free-throw line. SLU outrebounded the Dukes by 20.
While Duquesne’s bench outscored SLU’s bench 35-16, SLU held the scoring advantage for points in the paint and on second-chance points. Lorreal Jones recorded her fifth double-double of the season by leading the team with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Courtney Webb added 12 points. Morgan Johnson chipped in 6 points, and Mallory Eggert contributed 9 points and eight rebounds. Jenna Mueller’s 8 points were a season high.
The Billikens will return to Chaifitz Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. against Temple.
