PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A huge third quarter by Saint Louis helped them return to Atlantic 10 play with a 72-62 win at Duquesne on Wednesday afternoon at UPMC Fieldhouse, giving the Dukes their first home loss of the season.
 
The Billikens started on a 6-0 run; Duquesne was able to tie the game at 9. SLU led 14-13 at the end of the first quarter. The Bills had five steals in the opening quarter.
 
Duquesne got its first lead of the game on a 7-0 run to go up 20-17. The Billikens responded with a run to take a 23-20 lead. Good defense by both teams down the stretch had the score knotted at 25 at halftime.
 
A back and forth game to start the quarter kept the game tied until the Billikens went on a 9-0 run fueled by three pointersto lead 41-34. And extended to 15-2 run and went up 47-36. And lead 51-40 at the end of the quarter.
 
The Dukes were able to get within four at 56-52 with roughly four minutes remaining. The Billikens lead 61-57 with 90 seconds to play. SLU closed it out with a 11-5 run to secure the win and remain undefeated in conference play.
 
NOTABLES

• This was the first win over Duquesne in the Tillett era and program first win in Pittsburg since 2019
• Starting 2-0 in the Atlantic 10 play for the first time since the 2017-18 season
• Alyssa Koerkenmeier had her second consecutive double-double with 11 points and rebounds, she added four blocks
• Eight of nine Billikens recorded a steal totaling 14 in the game
• Alexia Nelson had 13 points with eight assists and only one v turnover
• Zya Nugent led all scorers with 19 points, she added six rebounds

 
UP NEXT
The Billikens are back at home against Davidson on Saturday at 1 p.m.