WICHITA, Kan. – Saint Louis University women's basketball team dropped its first true road game of the season falling 78-59 to Wichita State in Charles Koch Arena Friday night.
 
The loss moves SLU to 4-4 on the year and 1-3 away from the team's home court. 
 
The Billikens got off to a slow start to open the contest, surrendering the game's first six points. A layup from Marcavia Shavers nearly three minutes into the first quarter stopped the run, but the Shockers kept the offensive momentum, hitting their third three of the day to go up 18-6, eight minutes in. Brooklyn Gray answered with one from beyond the arc for the Billikens, but it was the Shockers who took the commanding nine-point lead into the second quarter. 
 
SLU's offensive woes continued through the second quarter, going 6-19 from the floor through the next 10-minute period. The Billikens' rebounding efforts also continued to mar the matchup, as they gave up 15 in the second period, including six offensive boards which went in favor of the home team. Capped by Shavers third make from the floor and a stop on the other end, SLU went into the break, trailing 38-24.
 
Out of the locker room, Kyla McMakin hit the Billikens second three of the day to shock the Shockers early in the third quarter. SLU carried the opening possession's momentum into its ensuing ones, as Kennedy Calhoun made her presence known, scoring back-to-back buckets in the paint to pull within 10. The Billikens pulled with six, but several trips to the charity stripe gave the Shockers, who only scored 36 points on their last outing, a 51-40 advantage. 
 
Entering the fourth quarter, the Billikens were once again tasked with digging themselves out of an 11-point deficit. In a category that typically favored SLU, the Shockers held the advantage from the free-throw line in the final period going 19-25 while the Billikens only made four of their nine attempts. SLU shot 8-14 from the charity stripe in the game, a season low. 
 
The home team marginally increased its lead in the game's final minutes as the Billikens went three of their last 11 from the floor and the Shockers captured the victory and moved to 4-4 on the season. 
 
Shavers led the team with nine rebounds while Tierra Simon added eight along with four blocks, but still, the Billikens saw themselves out-rebounded by 16.
 
SLU will be back in action Sunday for a home game against Ball State. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.