 Billikens Hold On For 66-65 Win Over UT-Martin
Nov. 18, 2006
ST. LOUIS - Freshman forward Amanda Kemezys (Fairview Heights, Ill./Bellevillle East) scored a game-high 16 points and added 11 boards for her first-career double-double in leading Saint Louis to a win over Tennessee-Martin 66-65 in non-conference women's basketball action at the Bauman-Eberhardt Center on Saturday. Tennessee-Martin climbed all the way back from a 17-point second-half deficit and had an opportunity at the end, but Nicole Holeman's chance at the buzzer banged off the back of the rim, securing the fourth-straight win for the Billikens. The Billikens (4-0) led by as many as 13 points in the final ten minutes, but Tennessee-Martin (1-1) was able to claw its way back by putting together runs of 7-0 and 10-0. With a minute and a half to go in the game, freshman guard Theresa Lisch gave the Bills a three-point cushion on a reverse-layin off an offensive rebound, but Holeman put down two free throws on the other end to pull the Skyhawks within one. After a Lisch 3-pointer fell off the mark, UT-Martin called a timeout with 12 seconds remaining to set up the final play. As the final seconds ticked away, it looked as though the Skyhawks wouldn't get a shot off. Holeman, however, maneuvered the baseline and had an open look, but the heave as the buzzer sounded was a little strong and bounced off the back of the rim. Saint Louis combined efficient shooting from Kemezys and a stifling defense in the first half to open up a 14-7 advantage early on. Kemezys dominated the paint, hitting her first four shots from the field and collecting six caroms off the glass. Combining a staunch defense which forced eight turnovers through the first seven minutes and a trey from senior guard Tyler McIlwraith, SLU was able to pull away to a seven point lead with 11:26 remaining in the half.
But the resilient Skyhawks were able to claw back thanks to a couple of 3-point baskets from Nicole Rivers, including one from the right corner at the 9:37 mark to cut the Skyhawks' deficit to three. SLU countered when freshman forward Maggie Hennegan connected on a traditional 3-point play and senior guard Rachel Diener had a coast-to-coast layin after a steal. That combination allowed the Billikens to climb back up to a nine point lead. The Skyhawks managed some timely shots and forced a SLU timeout at the 2:50 mark of the first half after trimming the Billiken lead to just three points once again. Following that timeout, Diener nailed two shots from 3-point land as SLU regained control and eventually coasted into halftime with a 13-point lead. The teams traded buckets during the beginning of the second half before Tennessee-Martin was able to string together a 7-0 run, which was sparked by a traditional 3-point play from Andreika Jackson. McIlwraith put an end to the run with a layup and a free throw, and Lisch later sunk a 3-ball to bring the Billikens to a 13-point lead with 8:23 to play. From that point on, SLU managed only six points the rest of the way - a layin and free throw from Katie Paganelli and Lisch's trey - as Tennessee-Martin rallied for the chance at the end. Kemezys finished 8-for-10 from the field to go along with her career-high 11 boards. McIlwraith netted 15 points, while Lisch chipped in 13 to go along with six assists. The Billikens shot 37-percent as a team and committed a season-high 24 turnovers. Jackson led UT-Martin with 14 points. Holeman added 13 points despite a 1-of-7 shooting performance, but she nailed all 10 of her attempts from the free-throw line. As a team, the Skyhawks committed 26 turnovers, which resulted in 26 points for the Billikens. SLU begins a three-game road stretch on Tue., Nov. 21 at Southern Illinois in a 7:05 p.m. showdown with the Salukis. The team then travels to Seattle for Washington's Husky Classic beginning on Sat., Nov. 25. |
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