Jan. 2, 2008

Box Score

CHICAGO - Theresa Lisch scored a game-high 27 points, including 21 after intermission, but hot 3-point shooting in the second half pushed Chicago State past Saint Louis 81-76 Wednesday night in the Billikens' final non-conference game of the season.

Sisters Courtney and Alyssa Waldon combined for a 5-of-6 performance from beyond the arc in the second half for Chicago State (7-7). That offset the Billikens' 52.8-percent overall shooting for the game, a mark that tied their second-best effort this season.

Saint Louis (5-10) trailed 56-49 following a 23-9 run by Chicago State, but the Billikens chipped away and eventually regained the upper hand, 67-65, on a Lisch 3-pointer with 4:29 to play. After Chicago State tallied the next six points, Lisch hit two free throws, Hayley Leake scored a fast-break layup and Lisch drained another triple to put the Bills on top 74-73 with 1:09 remaining.

Unfortunately, that was the final lead SLU would own. Laureen Pierson gathered an offensive rebound and made a layup to put CSU on top for good, and the Cougars stretched their advantage to 79-74 with four straight free throws before a layup by Lisch made it a one-possession game. However, Chicago State secured the win with two more from the line in the closing seconds.

Saint Louis, which shot a torrid 65.2 percent from the floor in the first half, led 22-14 at the 10:05 mark following a 7-0 burst. The SLU lead was 29-22 when Chicago State embarked on an 11-2 spurt that gave the Cougars a 33-31 edge with 2:27 left. That was all the scoring CSU would manufacture before the halftime buzzer, however, while Leake's jumper, two Heather King free throws and Katie Paganelli's 3-pointer from the right baseline gave Saint Louis a 38-33 cushion at the break.

Amanda Kemezys scored 13 points, and Paganelli added 12 points and tied her career best with five assists for the Billikens. Amy Klotz grabbed a game-high eight rebounds, equaling her career high. Jasmin Dixon and Alyssa Waldon posted 17 points apiece, Courtney Waldon scored 13, Pierson netted 12 and Sarah Black added 11 for Chicago State.

The Billikens begin Atlantic 10 Conference play on Saturday, Jan. 12, at Fordham.