EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Kyla McMakin scored 20 points and tournament Most Valuable Player Peyton Kennedy tossed in 19 to power Saint Louis to a 69-50 victory over Minnesota in the championship game of the Women's National Invitation Tournament Saturday afternoon at SIUE's First Community Arena.

McMakin joined Kennedy on the All-Tournament team.

The Billikens, who won their first five WNIT games by a total of 21 points, throttled the Big Ten Golden Gophers from the outset. SLU held Minnesota to 33.9 percent shooting overall and 17.4 percent (4-of-23) from 3-point range while forcing 20 turnovers, 11 of which were Saint Louis steals.

The Billikens dominated from the start, as Kennedy Calhoun scored the game's first points of the day driving in the paint and finding the basket. The Gophers responded, and led 5-4 early in the first quarter. SLU did not trail again, as Kennedy hit her first three-pointer of the day to boost the Billikens on top.

SLU led 16-9 after one quarter and took a 33-21 advantage to the locker room at halftime after Julia Martinez canned a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Martinez finished with a team-high 10 rebounds and game highs of six assists and five steals.
 
The Bills outscored the Golden Gophers 21-11 in the third quarter to take a commanding 54-32 lead.
 
Kennedy Calhoun scored 11 points for the Billikens, who were 11-of-24 (45.8 percent) from 3-point distance. Six different players tallied at least one 3-pointer for Saint Louis, led by Kennedy's three.