BOX SCORE

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women’s basketball team trailed by as many 15 in the second half, before mounting a late run to tie the game with 1:27 remaining.  However, Saint Louis knocked down key free throws down the stretch and escaped with a 63-59 win at the Ford Center Sunday afternoon.
 
Redshirt sophomore Khristian Hart knocked down six three-pointers and added a layup to lead Evansville (2-7) with 20 points.  Seniors Meagan Collins and Samantha Heck each finished the afternoon with 13 points, while redshirt senior Chelsea Falkenstein grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.
 
Saint Louis (5-5) took an early 8-3 lead heading into the first media timeout and pushed its lead to 15-7 at the second break, as Jacy Bradley accounted for 11 of SLU’s first 15 points.
 
Hart sparked an 8-2 run for the Aces that brought UE back within four at 19-15 with 6:18 remaining in the first half by knocking down a pair of threes and converting on a driving layup.
 
The Billikens countered with a 13-4 run to capture their largest lead of the half at 32-19 at the 1:32 mark in the opening stanza and took a 34-21 advantage heading into the locker room.
 
SLU shot 47.1 percent from the floor in the first half, knocking down 16 of its 34 shot attempts, despite hitting just two of its nine three-point attempts.  UE was held to a 26.7 percent shooting percentage (8-for-30), going 3-for-12 from behind the arc.
 
Evansville raced out of the locker room by going on a 10-2 run that was capped by a Heck layup to bring the Aces within seven at 38-31 with 13:20 remaining in the contest.
 
Both teams traded baskets over the next six minutes, until UE used full-court pressure to force three-straight Saint Louis turnovers and pull within one at 52-51 on steal and a layup by sophomore Juliann Miller at the 4:19 mark.
 
Courtney Webb ended the Evansville rally with a trey from the right corner to put SLU back in front by two possessions, but the Aces quickly responded as Miller drained a triple of her own to cut the margin to 57-54 with 1:39 left in the game.
 
On the ensuing possession, the Aces forced another Saint Louis turnover and Hart connected from long range to tie the game for the first time at 57-57 with just under a minute to play.
 
Free throws were key down the stretch and proved to be the difference, as SLU was able to connect on six of its last eight free throws, while Evansville misfired on its only attempt from the line in the final minute.  A free throw by the Halee Castleman made the score 63-59 with just 2.1 seconds remaining, clinching the win for Saint Louis.
 
SLU’s Jacy Bradley led all scorers with 23 points, going 8-for-13 from the field and Lorreal Jones and Webb joined Bradley in double figures, scoring 12 points apiece. 
 
Evansville’s defense held the Billikens to just eight field goals over the final 20 minutes, but Saint Louis was able to convert on 10 of its 17 free-throw opportunities, with all 17 of them coming in the second half.
 
The two sides combined for just 18 turnovers and scored 25 points off of those turnovers, as Saint Louis scored 13 points off of UE miscues, while the Aces were able to score 12 points off of SLU’s eight turnovers.
 
The Aces will have a long break before their next contest, as they will look to end their six-game losing skid on Dec. 20, when they travel to Toledo for a 6 p.m. contest as part of the Toledo Tournament.  UE will then play again on Dec. 21, taking on either Hampton or Prairie View A&M.