ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis got contributions up and down its roster in a 78-71 victory over Illinois State Tuesday night at Chaifetz Arena.

It was the home opener for the Billikens, who improved to 2-1 overall. Illinois State, which opened its season last week with a win at Northwestern, dipped to 1-1. 

Peyton Kennedy led the Bills with 17 points, followed by Brooklyn Gray who recorded 16 points, including 14 in the second half alone.

Kennedy Calhoun recorded nine points, five assists and five steals. Shun'teria Anumele went for nine points and six rebounds in her Chaifetz Arena debut. Tierra Simon and Marcavia Shavers registered seven points apiece. 

In all, 10 Billikens scored in the game, and six registered season scoring highs on the night. 

SLU started off slow from the field, shooting just 29.4 percent in the first quarter, but the Bills found their offense in the second. They went on a 12-2 run in the second quarter to erase a 12-point deficit. Mia Bergstrom's first collegiate buckets were big ones, as she drilled a pair of treys in the final minutes of the first half to help the Bills to a 41-39 halftime advantage. 

Illinois State went up by six at one point in the third quarter and led by as many as five early in the fourth before the Billikens erupted for an 11-0 run to take control. Gray, Kennedy, Mya Glanton and Calhoun all scored in the rally to give SLU a lead it would not relinquish the rest of the way. 

The Redbirds pulled to within two of the lead with two minutes left, but a 3-point play by Gray and her free throws down the stretch helped SLU post the seven-point win.

Saint Louis returns to action on Sunday when it faces the Southern Indiana Eagles in Evansville. Game time is 2 p.m.