ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis University dominated St. Bonaventure here Sunday afternoon, defeating the Bonnies, 83-61.
The win moves the Billikens to 12-7 on the year and 7-9 in Atlantic 10 Conference play while evening up their home record at 7-7.
SLU, led by
Kyla McMakin's season high of 30 points, shot 57.4 percent in the win going 35-61 from the floor in the team's second-best shooting performance of the season.
The Billikens offense couldn't be stopped from the opening tip, as the first quarter debuted a 14-2 run to boost SLU to an 11-point lead at the conclusion of the game's opening 10 minutes. McMakin kept the Billikens' on the attack in the ensuing 10, scoring seven points early in the second quarter. The home team continued to ride the momentum, scoring 12 unanswered points capped by one of
Julia Martinez's four steals on the day. St. Bonaventure's struggles continued, as the Billiken defense stifled every attempt at a rhythm and the Bonnies' found themselves trailing 46-18 at the half.
SLU's defensive prowess faltered in the opening minutes of the second half, as the Bonnies scored their first three pointers of the day on three-straight possessions to force head coach
Rebecca Tillett to take a timeout. Out of the break,
Brooklyn Gray answered the Bonnies' threes with one of her own, stopping the visitors' largest run of the day at six points.
From there, the Billikens remained in control. Though giving up an additional two from beyond the arc, SLU continued its scoring ways, as Camreé Clegg's score to start the fourth quarter extended the Billikens' lead to 27 points. SLU ended the day with the team's fifth-largest point total of the season of 83 points.
McMakin's 30 points were done on 13-22 shooting from the floor, as the senior also grabbed three rebounds and a steal.
Peyton Kennedy scored 23 in the win, marking the first time since Jan. 20 against George Washington that two Billikens reached 20-plus points. Kennedy also assisted a career-high six baskets and tallied two steals.
The Billikens travel to La Salle Wednesday night to play their final regular-season road game - a 5:30 p.m. (CST) tip-off in Philadelphia.
