The Saint Louis University women’s basketball team broke a two-game losing streak in style on Wednesday afternoon, topping the University of Richmond Spiders at 52-49. Redshirt-sophomore Desirae Ball made a shot with less than 10 seconds to play to break a 49-49 tie, lifting the Billikens to victory. The bucket capped a second-half comeback for SLU, which trailed by as much as nine with nine minutes to play.
Ball led the team in scoring, racking up 13 points while going 6-of-10 from the field. Senior guard Jacy Bradley backed up Ball’s performance with 12 points and two assists.
“The biggest thing that we are looking to take advantage of is [Richmond’s] lack of getting back on defense. Our continuous movement will give them a hard time if we don’t stand around and watch,” Bradley said.
The Billikens’ tough defense gave the Spiders offense fits all day, holding it to just 34 percent shooting and causing 11 turnovers.
Junior forward Lorreal Jones led the Billikens on the boards again, recording her second double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Both teams’ offenses struggled through the first half, but a late basket by Richmond to narrow the Billikens’ lead to 22-18 seemed to spark the Spiders. Richmond went on a 20-7 run to open the second half, building a 38-29 advantage.
But, a quick five points by the Billikens, highlighted by a Bradley steal and layup, cut the Spiders’ lead to four with eight minutes remaining. The Billikens carried the momentum from Bradley’s layup to the defensive end, allowing Richmond to score just four points over the next five-minute span.
In an exciting final three minutes though, the teams exchanged the lead four times, as Richmond’s Kirstina King hit multiple clutch jump shots to keep the Spiders in the game. After being fouled with 1:38 left in the game, Jones sunk two clutch free throws to tie the game at 47.
Another defensive stand gave the Billikens the ball back, and Bradley drained a jumper to but the Billikens up 49-47. Richmond’s King answered with a jump shot of her own, but Ball was able to make the game-winning shot off a timeout, giving the Billikens the lead for good.
“We’re looking to go in there and get a big win,” Bradley said before the game. The Billikens certainly did, raising their Atlantic 10 record to 2-2, putting them right in the thick of the A-10 race. The loss drops Richmond to 1-3 in the A-10, 11-9 overall.
The win comes as a welcome relief after a tough loss on Sunday, Jan. 20 to Saint Joseph’s University. The Billikens fell behind quickly when the Hawks jumped out to a 12-0 run, and were never able to make much of a charge in a 69-38 loss.
“There are a lot of things we need to get better at, but Saint Joseph’s is a good team and I give them a lot of credit,” Head Coach Lisa Stone said after the game. The Hawks sit tied atop the A-10 at 3-0.
The Billikens return home on Sunday, Jan. 27, when they will host Charlotte. The 49ers sit at 2-1 in the A-10, led by 6-foot-3 forward Jennier Hailey, who is averaging 15.1 points per game.
