CONWAY, Ark. – Saint Louis University women's basketball earned its first-ever true postseason road win here Thursday night defeating Central Arkansas 66-61 in the opening round of the WNIT.

The Billikens only committed 12 turnovers against the Sugar Bears, while turning over the home team 17 times and turning them into 15 points. SLU also out-rebounded the home team by one, 37-36.

SLU's traditionally-fiery offense was quiet to open its contest against the Sugar Bears, only scoring 11 first-quarter points on 28 percent shooting. At the end of the opening period, SLU put together a defensive stop at the buzzer and went into the second trailing 12-11.

The Sugar Bears scored three-straight three-pointers early in the second quarter, taking their largest lead of the day, 25-17, at the four-minute mark. The Billikens fought their way back, and only found themselves trailing by two heading into the break courtesy of Julia Martinez's tough bucket in the paint.

Out of the locker rooms, Brooklyn Gray tied the game at 29 apiece at the charity stripe. The Sugar Bears hit a three on the other end before Peyton Kennedy answered with one of her own. The Billikens capitalized on their hot offensive hand, using a 13-3 run to go up by eight points. 

SLU carried its momentum over to the final 10-minute period at the Farris Center and went up by 10 points (55-45) with eight minutes remaining in regulation. UCA threatened to stay undefeated at home, with a surge to tie the game at 61 apiece. The Billikens turned the Sugar Bears over one final time while on the other end of the floor Kennedy, who put up 28 points on the night, scored to give SLU back the lead. Kennedy and McMakin made four combined free throws to ice the game and give SLU the win. 

The win advances SLU to the second round of the WNIT against the University of Northern Iowa. The game, which the Billikens will host, will tip off at 5 p.m. Sunday at Chaifetz Arena. Tickets for the contest against the Panthers can be found here.