ST. LOUIS – The Saint Louis University women's basketball team battled Drake in its season opener Wednesday night, falling 78-66 to the Bulldogs at Chaifetz Arena. 
 
The teams traded turnovers to start the matchup, setting the tone for the night as the Billikens and Bulldogs combined for 48 turnovers in the mid-week matchup. The Billikens' steals helped offset the glaring statline, though, as Julia Martinez and Marcavia Shavers each grabbed one to start the night. Three minutes into the first period, Drake got the scoring started first, as the Bulldogs' leading scorer Grace Berg put up the first points of the night. Seconds later, Peyton Kennedy answered, scoring the Billikens' first field goal. 
 
With a narrow 9-7 lead at the first media timeout, SLU continued its offensive attack through the remainder of the opening period, shooting 44 percent through the first 10 minutes to take the 18-14 advantage.
 
The second quarter followed a different script for the home team, as Drake rode a 15-0 run to take a 29-20 lead. The Billikens struggled on the offensive front, only connecting on 4-19 shots. The Bulldogs, who shot 47.1 percent during the second period, took a 34-27 lead heading into the break.
 
Coming out of the half, the Billikens' offensive woes continued, but a jumper from Kyla McMakin cut the lead to 34-29 in favor of the visitors. The Bulldogs punched back, though, hitting two timely threes to extend their lead to 12 points at the under-five media timeout. Camree Clegg found an answer of her own, cutting Drake's advantage to eight points before two more from behind the arc boosted the Bulldogs lead to 57-41 heading into the final 10 minutes of the night. 
 
Tasked with digging themselves out of a 16-point deficit in the final period, the Billikens shot 47.4 percent and went 9-19 from the floor. With five minutes left in the matchup, newcomer Brooklyn Gray hit a deep three to cut the Billikens' deficit to 11. The teams traded points, with SLU cutting Drake's lead to seven off back-to-back layups from Gray. The Bulldogs hit their eighth three-pointer of the night, in response, helping seal the 78-66 win. 
 
Three Billikens scored in double figures with McMakin leading the charge with 20 points while Gray scored 12 and Kennedy and Clegg added 10, apiece. Tierra Simon led SLU on the defensive front, pulling down 13 boards in her Billiken debut, nine coming in the final five minutes of the first half. 
 
The Billikens will be back in action Sunday afternoon, hosting Mizzou at Chaifetz Arena. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.