AMHERST, Mass. – Saint Louis University women's basketball snapped a five-game losing skid here Saturday afternoon as the Billikens defeated the University of Massachusetts, 79-75.

The Billikens (6-10, 1-2) used a dominant fourth quarter outscoring the Minutewomen, 22-15, in the final period to earn their first true road and Atlantic-10 Conference wins of the year.

Kyla McMakin tied her season high of 27 points to lead all scorers in the victory, eclipsing 2,500 career points in the process.

The Billikens got off to a slow start at the Mullins Center to conclude their two-game road trip. Despite taking the 3-1 lead to start, back-to-back three pointers from UMass early in the first quarter boosted the home team to a 9-5 advantage off a 6-0 run. McMakin's fifth point of the day pulled the Billikens back within two, but another from beyond the arc from the home team kept the momentum in the hands of the Minutewomen. UMass's five first-quarter three pointers were more than the team had put up in seven complete games this season and the Minutewomen used it to their advantage, taking the 21-16 lead into the second quarter. 

Peyton Kennedy answered with a three pointer of her own, helping spark a momentum swing in favor of the Billikens to start the second quarter. The teams traded baskets before fouls shots from Kennedy and McMakin tied the teams at 33 points apiece. The Billikens were plagued by a three-minute scoring drought to end the half, while on the other end, the Minutewomen went 6-of-8 from the floor to send them into the locker rooms with a 38-33 lead over SLU.

A clutch steal by Kennedy Calhoun helped the team start off the second half strong, as Martinez scored and was fouled on the putback to complete the three-point play. The Minutewomen answered, making a three on the other end, as they shot their second-best from beyond the arc (9-21) on the day. The back-and-forth quarter was capped by a McMakin jumper, sending the Billikens into the final period trailing by three (60-57).

At the start of the fourth quarter, Martinez came up with a clutch steal of her own to start the fourth quarter, before McMakin's second three of the day gave SLU the narrow, 61-60 lead. The game came down to the final minutes as two of Tierra Simon's three rebounds came in critical moments – off a missed Billikens' free throw while on the other end a defensive board give them possession in the finals seconds. The Houston, Texas, native completed her important minutes, icing the game at the charity stripe with two makes to push the Billikens to the four-point game.

Kennedy's stand out performance ended with 18 points and a team-high nine rebounds while Camreé Clegg's 10 points came on perfect 4-4 shooting including two timely threes. Martinez ended the day with six rebounds and six assists.

The Billikens return home to continue their conference slate on Tuesday night taking on a one-loss Saint Joseph's team at Chaifetz Arena. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.