Nov. 27, 2004

Final Stats

St. Louis - Saint Louis guard Mia Johnson poured in 31 points tonight as the Billikens posted their first win of the year with 76-65 triumph over Austin Peay in the Coca Cola Billiken Classic consolation final at the Bauman-Eberhardt Center. Johnson set a school scoring record for freshmen and recorded only the fifth 30-point game in the Billikens' history.

The Billikens' post players and Johnson led SLU to a 36-30 halftime lead. In a form reversal from the Bills' game Friday night, each team came out smoking in the opening half as Austin Peay made its first six shots, while the Bills made five of their first six. The Bills broke from a 23-all tie on Johnson's lay-in after she picked up a loose ball in the lane. Johnson followed that with a deep trey from the left side. Freshman forward Kerry Rapp sandwiched a lay-up and a traditional three-point play around freshman forward Marquita McFarland's lay-up to close the half. Rapp, McFarland and freshman forward Heather King accounted for 17 points and led a 22-12 SLU edge on the glass.

Johnson ripped the Lady Governors' zone defense with four second half treys. When Johnson wasn't connecting from deep, the Bills' forwards continued to control the interior. Austin Peay didn't get its first offensive rebound until five minutes into the second half. Saint Louis stretched its lead to 60-41 on sophomore forward Krystal Hatton's lay-up. The Lady Govs never seriously threatened again.

Guard Ashley Haynes led Austin Peay (1-3) with 16 points. Robin Leslie and Cassandra Peek each had 13 points, and Kera Bergeron added 12. The Lady Govs shot 42.9 percent from the field, 27.3 percent from the arc and 47.4 percent from the free throw line.

Johnson's seven three-pointers was the second highest total in school history. McFarland was the only other Billiken in double figures with 13 points. Saint Louis shot 43.1 percent from the floor in recording a season high for points. The Bills also were 43.8 percent from the arc and 61.9 percent from the line. The Bills dominated the glass 48-29. For the first time this season, SLU had a positive assist-to-turnover ratio with 18 dimes and 13 turnovers.

The Billikens (1-2) entertain Southwest Missouri State on Wed., Dec. 1, at 7 p.m.