SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Saint Louis women's basketball fell 70-66 to Missouri State in its season opener Monday night at Great Southern Bank Arena.
The Billikens started strong, leading the entire first quarter until the Bears took a 15-14 lead with three minutes remaining. The teams traded points the rest of the first, with neither side leading by more than two.
Alexia Nelson's last-second layup gave SLU a 22-21 advantage at the end of the frame.
Missouri State surged in the second quarter, using a 9-2 run to take a 33-24 lead. Saint Louis responded, pulling within one at 35-34 heading into halftime.
The Bears extended their advantage to 40-34 early in the third, but the Billikens battled back to tie it at 52 late in the period. Missouri State closed the quarter on an 8-0 run to take a 60-52 lead.
Saint Louis came out firing in the fourth, going on a 12-1 run to grab its first lead of the half at 64-61. Missouri State went without a field goal in the quarter until the final minute, when an and-one tied the game at 66 before the Bears closed it out 70-66.
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The Billikens have their home opener against Middle Tennessee on Thursday at 4 p.m. as part of a double-header with the men's basketball team.
