January 24, 2000

Box Score

CINCINNATI - Madinah Slaise poured in 28 points to pace Cincinnati to a 61-56 victory over Saint Louis in Conference USA action on Saturday.

After a close first half, the Bearcats went into intermission with a 28-25 edge. The Billikens held Cincinnati without a point for the first five minutes and 31 seconds of the second half and went on a 9-0 run for a 34-28 margin. The Bearcats came back to tie the game at 38-38 at the 12:26 mark before Slaise tallied 11 straight points for the Bearcats.

Cincinnati held a 56-46 lead with three minutes left in the game before the Billikens put on a late rally. Christan Shelton hit a jumper and Bridget Beckmann converted a layup before a Mandy Lueking trey brought the Bills to 56-53 with 44 seconds remaining.

Slaise hit two free throws for the Bearcats for a 58-53 lead, but the Billikens turned the ball over. Cincinnati hit one free throw for a 59-53 margin, but fouled Lueking on a 3-point attempt with 11 seconds left in the game.

Lueking converted all three attempts to pull SLU to 59-56, but Tish Perry put the game away with two free throws with eight seconds remaining in the game.

Lueking led the Bills with a season-high 26 points, including five 3-pointers. Beckmann posted her second straight double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Slaise was the only Bearcat in double figures with 28 points, including 13-of-14 from the free throw line.

Cincinnati committed a season-low nine turnovers while forcing the Billikens into 18. Cincinnati improves to 10-7, 4-3 in C-USA. The Billikens fall to 8-10, 1-6 in C-USA.