Feb. 25, 2007

Final Stats

Philadelphia - Despite 25 points from freshman Theresa Lisch, the Saint Louis Billikens dropped a 75-66 overtime decision at La Salle on Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia. Crista Ricketts scored 12 points in overtime to key the Explorers in the regular sea. The Billikens are now 12-16 overall, 4-10 in the A-10. La Salle moves to 18-11 overall, 7-7 in the league.

Theresa Lisch hit a long jumper, and Amy Klotz added one free throw as the Billikens went up 6-2 three minutes into the contest. La Salle scored six straight points to tie the game at 10-10, but Amanda Kemezys scored inside to push SLU back up 12-10. The Explorers again tied the game at 15-15, but a Lisch jumper and Kemezys putback led to a 19-15 lead with seven minutes left in the first half. However, La Salle used an 8-2 run to take its first lead at 26-25. Paganelli answered with a trey, but the Explorers sank their own 3-pointer to reclaim the lead. Lisch put SLU up 30-29 in the final minute, but La Salle scored just before intermission for a 31-30 lead.

La Salle scored on the first possession of the second half, but buckets by Paganelli and Lisch handed SLU a 34-33 advantage. Neither team led by more than two until Hennegan drained a long jumper to give SLU a 40-37 lead with 11 minutes left to play. The Explorers inched ahead with four straight free throws 43-42 at the 7:20 mark. Two free throws by Lisch tied the game at 46-46 with five minutes left in the game. The contest was tied at 50-50 before a Lisch layup put the Billikens on top 52-50 with 2:12 left to play. Two La Salle free throws tied the game, but Hennegan scored inside with 1:32 left. Jamie Walsh hit a trey from the corner to put La Salle up 54-53 with 35.1 seconds left. Lisch drew a foul and hit one free throw to tie the game at 55 with 10.4 seconds left. The Billiken defense did not allow a La Salle shot as the game moved to overtime.

La Salle started quickly in overtime in scoring the first five points. Kemezys scored for SLU, but Ricketts tallied her ninth point in overtime as La Salle surged to its biggest lead of the game 66-57. Lisch made one free throw to cut the margin to eight. The Explorers hit one free throw, but Lisch tacked on a trey to cut the margin to 67-61 with 1:29 to play. Lisch sank two free throws to bring the Billikens to 70-65 with under a minute left. However, the Explorers hit seven of eight free throws in the final 1:04 to hold on for the win.

Theresa Lisch poured in 25 points, the second-highest total of her career, and handed out five assists to lead the Billikens. Katie Paganelli chipped in 10. Crista Ricketts finished with 22 points, while Carlene Hightower added 21 to lead La Salle. The Explorers hit all four of their field goal attempts in overtime.

The Billikens will be the No. 11 seed for the Atlantic 10 Tournament and face No. 6 seed Richmond at 5 p.m. (CT) on Fri., March 2. The Billikens defeated the Spiders 78-70 on the road last Thursday.