ST. LOUIS – Hannah Early scored 14 of her game-high 17 points in the second half to lead Davidson to a 53-50 Atlantic 10 Conference victory over Saint Louis Sunday afternoon at Chaifetz Arena.

The Wildcats, in their first season of A-10 membership, improved to 5-13 overall and 1-4 in the conference. Saint Louis dipped to 8-10, 1-4.

Early's 5-of-10 effort from 3-point range included a 4-of-7 performance after intermission. Her final trey with 8:15 remaining sparked a 22-9 game-ending run that erased a 41-31 Billiken lead.

Dakota Dukes had 10 points, six rebounds and three steals for Davidson. Alex Long scored 10 points, Saadia Timpton grabbed six rebounds, and Shannon Eriksson and Diona Johnson registered four assists apiece.

Denisha Womack led the Billikens with 10 points and eight rebounds. Jamesia Price scored all nine of her points in the second half, including two crucial 3-pointers late in the game that kept the Saint Louis hopes alive.

Sadie Stipanovich had eight points and eight rebounds, Maddison Gits scored a career-high-tying eight points, and Jackie Kemph picked up four assists.

Davidson led 11-4, but Saint Louis held the Wildcats scoreless for more than 10 minutes during a 14-0 spurt that put the Billikens in front 18-11. Gits tallied all eight of her points during the run. The Bills led 23-18 at the break.

SLU began the second half with a bang and built its largest lead of the game. Olivia Jakubicek drilled a 3-pointer, and Stipanovich followed with a layup and two free throws for a 30-18 Billiken cushion with 16:51 remaining.

A jumper by Long and two consecutive triples by Early trimmed the SLU advantage to 30-26, but the Bills gradually built the lead back to double digits with an 11-5 run. Womack scored six points during the stretch, which culminated with a Jenny Vliet 3-pointer that made it 41-31 at the 8:32 mark.

However, Early struck again from beyond the arc on Davidson's next possession to ignite the Wildcats' decisive flurry.