Feb. 13, 2011

Box Score

KINGSTON, R.I. - Mallory Eggert registered her second double-double of the season in Saint Louis' 68-54 Atlantic 10 Conference loss to Rhode Island Sunday afternoon at the Ryan Center.

Eggert scored 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds. Jacy Bradley scored 15 points for the Billikens (7-18, 1-9 A-10).

Megan Shoniker scored 35 points including an 18-of-19 performance from the free-throw line, part of a 29-of-33 effort for Rhode Island (7-17, 1-9 A-10). Lara Gaspar added 20 points for the Rams.

After Rhode Island jumped out to a 10-3 lead, the Billikens cut it to 10-9 on Eggert's turnaround jumper, two Lauren Woods free throws and a baseline drive by Lorreal Jones. Rhode Island responded by scoring on nine of its next 12 possessions to take a 28-16 advantage.

The Billikens twice narrowed the gap to nine, first on Ashley Hanlen's 3-pointer from the corner and then on Eggert's layup. Shoniker gave the Rams a 33-21 halftime cushion by hitting a trey with 37 seconds left.

Saint Louis sliced the URI lead to 10 points three times early in the second half on two Jones layups and an Eggert basket, but a 9-2 run put the Rams on top 46-29.

However, the Billikens put together an 18-8 flurry, scoring on eight of nine possessions, to make it a 54-47 game at the 7-minute mark. Bradley nailed two 3-pointers and Janisha Gearlds hit a pair of buckets to highlight the run, which included scoring from six Billikens.

SLU had two immediate chances to draw closer but could not take advantage. Rhode Island then regained its offensive composure and scored on five straight and six of seven possessions for a 63-51 lead and firm command with 1:33 to play.

The Billikens host nationally ranked Xavier, the Atlantic 10 Conference co-leader, Wednesday, Feb. 16. Tip time at Chaifetz Arena is 7 p.m.