MISSOULA, Mont. – Saint Louis battled back from a 14-point deficit to take the lead, but Austin Peay claimed an 86-81 victory Friday night in the opening game of Montana's Lady Griz Holiday Classic.
The Billikens (4-6) will play either Montana or Utah Valley in Saturday's consolation game. Tip time will be 6:30 p.m. (CT) if the opponent is Utah Valley, 8:30 p.m. if the opponent is Montana.
Denisha Womack tied for game-high honors with a season-high 20 points, including 16 in the second half. Sadie Stipanovich netted 12 of her 18 points in the second half, and Olivia Jakubicek added 13.
Saint Louis earned a 37-32 advantage on the boards, led by Womack and Jakubicek with eight rebounds apiece. Six of Jakubicek's rebounds came on the offensive glass. Stipanovich and Jamesia Price collected six rebounds apiece, and Price had three steals.
Jenny Vliet recorded a career-high eight assists to go with eight points, while Jackie Kemph and Erin Nelson tossed in eight points each.
The Billikens sank a season-high 19 free throws (19-of-24, 79.2 percent) for a second consecutive game and committed just nine turnovers.
Austin Peay (3-8) placed four players in double figures, led by Tearra Banks (20 points). Banks also registered seven rebounds. Kristen Stainback scored 16 points, and Tiasha Gray had 12 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists.
Beth Rates contributed 11 points for the Lady Govs, who shot 51 percent from the floor overall, 56 percent (9-of-16) from 3-point range and 100 percent (15-of-15) from the foul line.
Austin Peay opened the second half with a 10-3 run that gave the Lady Govs their largest lead, 49-35. But a Nelson 3-pointer sparked a Saint Louis flurry that propelled the Billikens into the lead.
Vliet followed with a layup, and Nelson sank two free throws to narrow the gap to 49-42. Womack converted an offensive rebound into a layup, and two Price free throws made it a five-point game, 51-46.
Womack netted four straight charity tosses, and Jakubicek made two from the stripe to slice the deficit to 53-52. Womack's triple put the Bills on top 55-53, and Nelson's second trey of the half upped the lead to 58-55.
After a 7-2 mini run gave Austin Peay a 62-60 edge, the lead changed hands five more times before SLU went in front 69-66 on two Stipanovich free throws. The Billikens didn't capitalize on an Austin Peay miss, however, and Jacey Scott's 3-pointer tied the game and ignited a 14-4 spurt that gave the Lady Govs an 80-73 advantage.
Saint Louis drew to within three on two free throws apiece by Stipanovich and Womack. But Austin Peay secured the victory with flawless foul shooting in the final 23 seconds.
Kemph scored six points, and Jakubicek and Vliet tallied four apiece to stake the Billikens to their largest lead, 14-9, at the 13:57 mark. Austin Peay used a 12-2 spurt to grab a 21-16 advantage with 10:39 remaining.
After the teams traded baskets for the next few minutes, a Madison Rich 3-pointer put Austin Peay on top 31-24 with 5:22 left. The Lady Govs went on to lead 39-32 at intermission.
