Nov. 19, 2010

Box Score

JONESBORO, Ark. - Janisha Gearlds scored a season-high 12 points, but Arkansas State outscored Saint Louis 21-10 over the last 13 minutes and shaded the Billikens 54-50 Friday night at the ASU Convocation Center.

Ashley Hanlen and Jacy Bradley netted nine points apiece for the Billikens (1-3). Mallory Eggert and Lorreal Jones collected eight and seven rebounds, respectively, with Eggert tying for game-high honors.

Shania Hurst led Arkansas State (3-1) with 14 points and eight rebounds. Quinishia McDowell tallied 10 points and six boards, while Jazmine Taylor had nine points, four assists and six steals.

The Billikens expanded a 28-26 halftime lead to 40-33 at the 14:25 mark. However, Arkansas State began chipping away and, ironically, sealed the victory with two free throws by McDowell with 11.1 seconds left. The Red Wolves finished 8-of-27 (29.6 percent) from the stripe.

The Billikens began the second half with a 6-1 run to boost their lead to 34-27. Gearlds tallied all six points on a short jumper and four free throws. Hurst finally scored ASU's first field goal of the half, but Lauren Woods restored a seven-point SLU lead by collecting her own miss and making a tough layup.

ASU narrowed the gap to five points twice, but driving buckets by Eggert and Bradley pushed the margin back to seven on both occasions, the second time 40-33. The Red Wolves began their run at that point and took a 47-46 lead on Jane Morrill's turnaround bank shot.

Eggert made a layup to put SLU on top again with 4:04 left, but those were the last points the Bills would register until Eggert scored again with 56 seconds left to make it a 52-50 ASU game.

ASU missed on its next possession but the Billikens could not take advantage, missing a shot of their own. McDowell was fouled and converted twice to make it a two-possession game, and Saint Louis was held scoreless on its final possession.

Kathryn Hester gave the Billikens a 2-0 lead with a short baseline jumper. After ASU tied it on Taylor's drive, SLU went on an 8-0 run to take a 10-2 lead. Woods made four consecutive free throws, Gearlds buried a 17-footer from the right wing and Bradley sank a 15-footer from the left wing following an offensive rebound.

Arkansas State made it a 10-9 game on Hurst's runner, a Morrill 3-pointer and Sherina Scott's layup. The Red Wolves then took their first lead, 12-10, on McDowell's trey and finished a 13-0 outburst with another McDowell 3-pointer for a 15-10 advantage.

Hanlen got the Bills back on track with a 3-pointer, then tied it at 16 moments later with another bucket from beyond the arc. After Jones put SLU back in front with a jumper in the lane, Arkansas State scored the next six points for a 22-18 edge.

However, the Billikens finished the half with a 10-4 flurry to surge ahead. Bradley ignited the spurt with two free throws and a trifecta, followed by Hanlen's third 3-pointer of the half and Jones' 10-foot bank shot, and Saint Louis carried a 28-26 lead into the locker room.

The Billikens host Murray State Sunday. Tip time at Chaifetz Arena is 2 p.m.