ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Four players in double figures was not enough as the St. Bonaventure University women's basketball team fell to Saint Louis, 75-61, in Sunday's Pink Game at the Reilly Center.
Nikki Oppenheimer matched her career-high with 17 points, including four makes from beyond the arc. Breauna Ware registered a new career-high with 16 points while Payton Fields also notched a new career-best with 13 points. I'yanna Lops chipped in 10 points and nine rebounds for the Bonnies.
The Bonnies were able to take the lead just out of the halftime thanks to an Oppenheimer 3-pointer.
The Billikens (9-16, 5-5 A-10), however, quickly responded with back-to-back baskets, retaking the lead, 45-42.
Holding on to a slim lead, the visitors used a 13-2 run over 3:38 of the third quarter to propel ahead by 12, 58-46.
The Bonnies (4-22, 1-10 A-10) went on a 6-0 run to end the third to pull back within six, 58-52, heading into the final frame.
Oppenheimer opened the fourth with a basket in the paint, bringing the hosts within four.
That is as close as the Bonnies would get as Brooke Flowers made four straight at the free throw line to push the Billikens back ahead by eight.
It was a back and forth first half that saw six lead changes and three ties.
The Bonnies held a 22-18 lead early on in the second quarter, but the Billikens used a 9-0 spurt to retake the lead, 27-22, with just over six minutes to play in the first half.
Oppenheimer tied the contest at 34-34 just before the break but Saint Louis' Kyla McMakin earned a trip to the free throw line before the buzzer, making both and taking a 36-34 edge into the locker room.
The Bonnies return to action Wednesday, Feb. 8 on the road at George Mason. Tip is slated for 7:00 p.m.
GAME NOTES
- The Bonnies finished the contest shooting 40.3 percent (25-for-62) from the field while Saint Louis shot 39.4 percent (26-for-66) from the floor.
- I'yanna Lops registered one block Sunday for her 52nd block of the season, tying Katie Healy, '16, for the most blocks in Bonnies single season history.
- Sunday marked just the second time this season the Bonnies have had four players score in double figures. The Bonnies had four players score in double digits in a win over Siena Nov. 16.
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