ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis University women's basketball captured a home win over Dayton Friday night, defeating the Flyers 74-70 at Chaifetz Arena.

The win boosts the Billikens' Atlantic-10 Conference record to 2-3 while moving their overall mark to 7-11 on the year. 

SLU recorded its third-most steals of the season in the victory, taking away 11 from the Flyers, as 24 turnovers, their second-most of the season, plagued the visitors.

It was all Billikens early in the Friday night contest, as points in the paint by Marcavia Shavers and Peyton Kennedy boosted the Billikens to an early 6-0 lead while three-straight turnovers plagued the Flyers. Dayton answered back, though, tying the game at eight apiece at the first media timeout of the night. The Billikens relinquished four more points in the first period, but the Billikens began a run, sparked by scores from Shavers and Kennedy Calhoun. At the end of the first quarter, SLU led the visiting Flyers, 19-12.

Their momentum carried into the second period, as the Billikens extended their run to 14 points as Calhoun and Shavers rode their strong performances into the early minutes of the second quarter before Dayton ended it off a jumper trailing 29-14. Promptly after, the Flyers hit one from beyond the arc to decrease their deficit to 12 points, but the Billikens once again answered, keeping their foot on the gas. Despite a four-minute scoring drought, a McMakin three at the buzzer sent SLU into the locker room leading, 43-27.

Out of the break was a different story, as the Billikens' fiery offense faltered and Dayton slowly chipped away at the home team's lead. Midway through the third quarter, the Flyers used an 8-0 run to pull within 10 points. Trips to the free throw line helped keep the Flyers at bay, as the Billikens shot a quarter-low 3-11 from the field.

The fourth quarter featured a shootout, as the Flyers found their offensive footing, outscoring the Billikens 26-19. Two of four-made fourth-quarter three pointers reduced the home team's lead to seven points, before Peyton Kennedy's lone three of the night extended the Billikens lead up to nine points. Another 6-0 run from the Flyers accompanied by an uncharacteristic five-straight Billiken misses from the charity stripe and the Flyers' seventh three of the night pulled them within two with 15 seconds remaining. The Billikens came out on top, though, as lone free throws from McMakin and Julia Martinez helped SLU ice the win. 

Six Billikens scored in the victory, with five of them, led by McMakin (17) and Shavers (15), reached double figures. 

SLU will be back in action next week hitting the road for games at George Mason on Wednesday night and George Washington on Saturday afternoon.