ST. LOUIS – Mallory Eggert scored a game-high 14 points, tying her career high, and Lorreal Jones produced a double-double in Saint Louis’ 53-52 loss to La Salle Saturday at Chaifetz Arena in the Atlantic 10 Conference opener for both teams.
Eggert was 7-of-8 from the field and added nine rebounds, five of which came on the offensive glass. Jones tallied 13 points on 5-of-6 from the field and 3-of-3 from the foul line, and she led the Billikens (6-10, 0-1 A-10) with 11 boards (four offensive). The double-double is her fourth of the season and the ninth of her career.
Jamesia Price dished out a career-high and game-high six assists and tied her career best with three steals. Desirae Ball netted eight points.
La Salle (7-9, 1-0 A-10), which extended its winning streak to four, got 13 points from Nadia Duncan, 12 points from Brittany Wilson and a game-high 14 rebounds from Ruvanna Campbell.
The Billikens earned a 40-28 advantage on the boards, the 15th time in 16 games they have won the rebounding battle. But La Salle shot 57.7 percent (15-of-26) from the field in the second half to overcome a seven-point halftime deficit.
Saint Louis sprinted to a 9-0 lead on two baskets by Ball, Jones’ three-point play and a layup by Eggert. La Salle pulled to within four points on four occasions, but the Billikens maintained control and led 25-18 at halftime.
The second half saw the Explorers gradually inch closer. Except for SLU’s 40-34 advantage with 10:36 to play, the Billikens’ lead alternated between two and four points from the 13:42 mark until Wilson’s 3-pointer with 2:33 left made it 50-49 Saint Louis.
Janisha Gearlds calmly sank two free throws with 1:36 remaining to give SLU a bit more breathing room. Wilson missed a 3-point attempt on La Salle’s next possession, but Campbell grabbed the rebound. Duncan made a free throw at the 1:02 mark, and it was 52-50 Billikens.
Wilson gathered an errant 3-point try on SLU’s next possession, and seconds later she found Campbell for a layup and a foul with 27 seconds left. Campbell’s free throw gave La Salle its only lead of the game, and Saint Louis was unable to answer.
The Billikens play at Charlotte Wednesday, Jan. 11. Game time is 6 p.m. (CT).
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