ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis University women's basketball dropped a battle with an Atlantic 10 Conference foe here Sunday afternoon, falling 72-61 to the Richmond Spiders.

The loss drops the Billikens to 8-13 on the year and 3-5 in conference play.

The visiting Spiders came out firing, sinking their first basket from beyond the arc, one of five three-pointers in the opening half. In contrast, the Billikens turned it over on their opening possession, allowing Richmond to score on its second sequence. Scores from Kyla McMakin and Peyton Kennedy on the Billikens' ensuing possessions pulled them within one (7-6).

A four-minute scoring drought plagued the Billikens in the first period, but Kennedy helped spark a run for the home team, with a block and a three-pointer in transition to tie the game up at 13, apiece. 

A defensive stop by the Billikens started off the second period before turnovers and misses plagued both team's ensuing possessions. Back-to-back threes by the Spiders gave them back the advantage, as they extended their run to six unanswered points. Four opposing free throw saw the Billikens into a 10-point hole, while the Billikens only scored three points through the first eight minutes of the second period. 

Threes from McMakin and Kennedy brought the Billikens back within three, sending them into the break trailing 29-26.

Out of the locker rooms, Marcavia Shavers scored quick points in the paint to bring SLU within one but the Billikens couldn't keep up with the Richmond's offensive pace as the third quarter commenced, as the four-loss Spiders went on a 7-0 run while holding the home team scoreless for yet another four-minute stretch.

The Billikens found themselves in an 11-point deficit to start the final period, accentuated by back-to-back scores in the paint by the Spiders to increase their lead to 15 points. SLU continued to fight through the ensuing minutes, as eight points from Brooklyn Gray and a three from Kennedy helped them pull within eight points with four minutes left to play.

Despite the Billikens forcing 28 turnovers on the day and holding the Spiders scoreless from the floor for the final three minutes, Richmond came out on top.

Kennedy's 20-point performance was her seventh of the season as the senior also pulled down eight rebounds and forced five turnovers. McMakin and Gray also reached double-figures in the loss with 12 points apiece and Julia Martinez led the team in assists (6) while tallying eight rebounds, as well.  

SLU returns to the road next week with games at Dayton and Davidson on Wednesday night and Saturday afternoon, respectively.