Nov. 19, 2004

Final Stats

ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis shot just 28.2 percent in a 76-59 loss to Youngstown State in the women's basketball season opener for both teams at Bauman-Eberhardt Center tonight. A manageable six point deficit at the half ballooned to 13 six minutes into the second period as the Billikens went five minutes without a basket. Freshman Mia Johnson led all scorers with 18 points, including 11 in the second half, but it wasn't enough against the 46.2 percent shooting from the Penguins.

The Billikens took the early lead in the first half, but could not build a comfortable margin. After the second media timeout of the game, the Penguins went on a 16-6 run to turn a deficit into a nine-point lead with four minutes left in the half. SLU cut the lead to six on Heather King's jumper as time expired.

Yanique Javois hit a lay-up to open the second half before the six-minute drought put the Penguins ahead 30-43 with 14:20 remaining. SLU looked to make a run with three-pointer from Ava Smith, a fast break bucket from Johnson and a jumper from Marquita McFarland that combined to cut the Penguins' lead to 46-37, but a pair of layups took the lead back to 13, and the Billikens would get no closer down the stretch.

SLU had three players in double figures as Javois' 14 points and McFarland's 10 joined Johnson's 18. McFarland and Johnson tied for team-high honors with nine rebounds apiece. For the Penguins, Jen Perugini led four double-figure scorers with 15 points. Barb Fabianova, Ashlee Russo and Michelle Holmes chipped in 14, 11 and 10, respectively.. Perugini pulled down a game-high 16 rebounds.

The Billikens are back in action in the Coca-Cola Billiken Classic Thanksgiving weekend. SLU hosts Alabama A&M in the 6 p.m. game on Fri., Nov. 26, at the Bauman-Eberhardt Center. Austin Peay will take on Butler in the 8 p.m. contest.

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