The Saint Louis University women’s basketball team prepared for the upcoming season with an exhibition game against Harris-Stowe on Nov. 7. The Billikens got off to a rocky start, but SLU still lead 16-6 after the first quarter. The Bills gained momentum in the second, scoring 20 points and shutting out Harris-Stowe. The half ended with a 50-18 lead for the Billikens.
SLU continued their domination into the second half, scoring 57 more points, ending the game with a score of 107-31. Senior forward Denisha Womack and sophomore guard Jackie Kemph registered double-doubles with 16 points and 10 rebounds, as well as 14 points and 16 assists respectively.
Four more SLU players scored in the double figures- sophomore forward Maddison Gits (15), sophomore guard Jenny Vliet (13), junior center Sadie Stipanovich (12) and junior forward Olivia Jakubicek (12). Jakubicek was one rebound short of a double-double, grabbing nine boards for the night. After struggling on offense, SLU shot 51.9 percent (41-79) from the floor, including a 9-of-25 night from 3-point range. Billikens Vliet (3-5), Jakubicek (2-3) and Kemph (2-4) inflicted damage from behind the arc.
As a team, SLU shot 84.2 percent (16/19) from the foul line. The Billikens also out-rebounded their opponent 69-34, recording 21 offensive boards. Smart ball movement had 33 assists and just 11 turnovers.
SLU also played well from a defensive standpoint, holding Harris-Stowe to 10.6 percent shooting from the floor.
The Billikens will begin their competitive season on Nov. 14 against Southeast Missouri State.
Coach Lisa Stone made an announcement on Nov. 11 that she had signed two high school student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for the 2016-17 season. These new additions include a 6-foot-2 inch forward Hannah Frazier (Batavia, Ill) and 6-foot-2 inch forward Kendra Wilken (Bartelso, Ill). Stone commented on the signees, “Hannah and Kendra are tremendous individuals on and off the court. They share our Billiken vision of success and a quest for championships.”
Frazier’s past includes being named Player of the Year by the Daily Herald and the Aurora Beacon-News. She averaged 22.1 points per game her junior year.
Wilken was named the Class 1A-2A Player of the Year by the Belleville News-Democrat by unanimous choice. She also averaged 19.9 points per game and 11.2 rebounds per game in her junior year.
