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THE BASICS
- Three players finished in double figures for the Billikens as they grabbed their 12 win overall on the season and sixth in Atlantic 10 play with a 91-85 win in double overtime over the Fordham Rams.
- The annual “Education Game” to was played mid-day in front of several thousand boisterous middle and grade school kids from the St. Louis area.
- The win was the second-consecutive one for the Billikens and the second-consecutive overtime win for the team.
- Jackie Kemph tied for her second highest point output of the season with 21 points
- Paige Rakers reached double digits for the eighth time in nine games on Wednesday with 16 points. The senior also tied a career-high with four three-pointers made.
- Maddison Gits had a career game with career highs of 34 points, three-pointers made (3-3 on Wednesday), field goals made (11), free throws made (nine), free throws attempted (12) and minutes. The senior also tied a career high with four blocked shots.
FIRST QUARTER
- Rakers opened-up the game with a three-pointer to put the Billikens on top 3-0 early.
- The Billikens jumped-out to a quick 10-4 lead, but the Rams responded with a 10-1 run to take their first lead 14-11.
- Fordham’s Lauren Holden knocked-down two, three-balls, including the one late to give her team a 14-11 advantage.
- Saint Louis was held scoreless for 5:40 seconds as Fordham went on a 14-0 run.
SECOND QUARTER
- Saint Louis began on a 4-0 run to cut the deficit to 21-17 in the early stages.
- Fordham’s Bre Cavanaugh connected on a three-ball from the top of the arc to give her team a 31-20 lead with 4:53 to play.
- The Rams ended the half on an 8-0 run to take a 41-27 lead into the break.
THIRD QUARTER
- Fordham’s Johanna Klug opened scoring hitting the front side of a trip to the free throw line at the 9:44 mark.
- SLU began cutting into the lead after Cavanaugh’s three-pointer at the 7:24 mark. A trio of three-pointers helped the Billikens put together an 18-2 run to tie the game at 49 with 4:32 left. Kemph, Rakers and Gits all hit triples during the run.
- Saint Louis took its first lead since the 5:30 mark of the first quarter with a jumper from Kemph to give the home team a 51-49 lead with just over two minutes left.
- SLU closes-out the quarter strong with a 55-53 advantage.
FOURTH QUARTER
- The Billikens continued on their upward momentum and extended the lead to 59-56 with 8:35 left on a bucket by Jenny Vliet.
- The Rams went 1-5 from the floor to begin the quarter. They finished with a 31.3 shooting percentage in the final 10 minutes of regulation.
- Holden’s jumper with 3:41 to cut the Billikens’ lead to four, 65-61, stopped the bleeding for the Rams.
- Cavanaugh knocked-down two free throws with 10 seconds left to tie the game and send it to overtime.
OVERTIME 1
- Gits recorded a big bucket to open the extra frame and gave the Billikens a 72-70 lead.
- Rakers knocked-down a long jumper from the corner with 3:12 remaining, but video review confirmed that the shot clock had expired prior.
- Jordan Frantz’s three-point attempt with under 10 seconds came-up short in a bid to win it in the first overtime period.
OVERTIME 2
- SLU began the second overtime period hot with six quick points in the first 1:44.
- Gits recorded the Billikens’ final two points with two free throws
BILLIKEN NOTABLES
- Gits finished the game with a career-high 34 points on Wednesday. The senior also notched a double-double with 15 defensive boards.
- SLU scored at least 20 points in each quarter for the first time this season.
- The Billikens shot 53.3 percent (34-of-67) from the field, their best mark in a conference game this season.
- Saint Louis was 18-of-24 (75.0 percent) from the foul line.
- SLU tied its season low of eight turnovers.
- The Billikens shot an incredible 71.4 percent from the floor in the third quarter.
- The Billikens outscored the Rams 42-30 in the paint.
- Gits added four blocks to her double-double.
FORDHAM LEADERS
Bre Cavanaugh, 37 points, four rebounds; Mary Goulding, 18 points, four assists, 11 rebounds; Lauren Holden, 17 points, 2-5 from three-point range.
UP NEXT
The Billikens complete their two-game home stand as they welcome the Davidson Wildcats to Chaifetz Arena on Sunday, February 4. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
