OLEAN, N.Y. - Janisha Gearlds scored a career-high 19 points, including 15 in the second half, and added a season-high eight rebounds in Saint Louis' 64-52 Atlantic 10 Conference loss at St. Bonaventure Saturday afternoon at the Reilly Center.

The Billikens (6-12, 0-3) trailed by 10 points at intermission and fell behind by 20 in the second half. A 14-4 run cut the St. Bonaventure lead in half, but the Bonnies (16-2, 3-0) used a quick 7-2 spurt to regain control en route to the victory.

Jessica Jenkins and Megan Van Tatenhove scored 15 and 14 points, respectively, to lead the St. Bonaventure scoring attack. Armelia Horton tallied eight rebounds and four assists, and Jenkins collected four steals.

The Billikens won the battle of the boards 35-31, giving them the rebounding advantage in 16 of 18 games this season.

"We knew this game would be tough without Jacy Bradley," head coach Shimmy Gray-Miller said, referring to the Billikens' junior guard who was injured late in the Charlotte game Wednesday night.

"We needed someone to step up, and Pooh Gearlds did exactly that by playing her finest game as a Billiken. We need more of that kind of performance as we continue the season."

St. Bonaventure began the second half with an 18-8 run to take a 48-28 lead, but Saint Louis refused to fold.

A Courtney Webb 3-pointer ignited a 14-4 Billiken spurt. Halee Castleman made a free throw and followed with a strong driving layup, and Webb buried another 3-pointer to trim the Bonnies' lead to 50-37. Gearlds then took over, connecting on a driving layup and three free throws on three consecutive possessions to make it 52-42 St. Bonaventure with 4:26 to play.

The Bonnies, however, scored seven of the next nine points to establish a 15-point margin at the 3:37 mark.

After St. Bonaventure scored on five of its first six possessions to grab a 12-0 advantage, the Billikens cut the lead in half with baskets by Lorreal Jones, Desirae Ball and Mallory Eggert.

Chelsea Bowker's layup and 3-pointer put the Bonnies on top 17-6, and it was 20-9 St. Bonaventure after Morgan Johnson and CeCe Dixon traded 3-pointers.

A four-point possession sparked an 11-4 Saint Louis run. Gearlds made a layup and was fouled, but she missed the free throw. Gearlds collected the offensive rebound, however, and Jamesia Price's layup moments later trimmed the St. Bonaventure lead to 20-13.

Johnson nailed another trey, Gearlds made a tough layup and Castleman sank two free throws to pull the Billikens to within four, 24-20, at the 2:58 mark. But Saint Louis was shut out the rest of the half while St. Bonaventure re-established a double-digit lead, 30-20, at the break.

"When you play the top team in the conference on their floor, you can't afford to get off to a slow start the way we did," Gray-Miller said. "But we played them even once we regrouped, and that says a lot about our team's resiliency."

After enjoying their midweek conference bye, the Billikens host Rhode Island Sunday, Jan. 22, at 11 a.m. The game will be nationally televised by CBS Sports Network.