The University of Dayton women’s basketball team takes on the Saint Louis Billikens Saturday, Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. at the UD Arena. The Flyers are coming off a 58-49 road win versus La Salle on Wednesday night, and are back in Dayton for a two-game homestand. The Billikens are coming off a 63-59 win over UMass. They are 9-17 overall and 3-8 in A-10 play. Prior to the game the University of Dayton will be honoring its seven senior women’s basketball players: De’Sarae Chambers, Patrice Lalor, Kayla Moses, Casey Nance, Elle Queen, Justine Raterman and Staci Willis, as well as senior practice players John Collins and Dave Petruska and manager Matt Stine.
FLYER FACTS
Senior Justine Raterman is leading the Flyers in scoring (13.8 ppg) and rebounding (6.4 rpg). Senior Patrice Lalor is also a leader for the Flyers with 100 assists (3rd in the A-10) and senior Elle Queen with 46 steals (4th in A-10). Senior Casey Nance leads the Flyers with 32 blocked shots (6th in the A-10). The Flyers, currently third place in the A-10 standings, are leading the A-10 in scoring averaging 70.8ppg and also top in assists with 16.3 apg.
SCOUTING THE BILLIKENS
Saint Louis is currently 11th in the Atlantic 10 with a 3-8 record. The Billikens’ three conference wins have come against Rhode Island (70-55), Duquesne (56-55) and UMass (63-59). Redshirt junior Courtney Webb leads SLU with 11.3 ppg. Freshman Desirae Ball adds 9.1 ppg. Sophomore Lorreal Jones leads the Billikens on the boards with 8.0 rpg. Senior Janisha Gearlds has dished a team-high 102 assists this season.
SERIES STUFF
The Flyers lead the overall series with the Billikens 18-6. Dayton has won the last eight games. The Flyers have done an incredible job at protecting their home court as they have won nine of their 11 games here at the UD Arena vs. the Billikens. Justine Raterman had 30 points in last year’s meeting, an 84-62 Flyer win on Jan. 12, 2011 in St. Louis.
UP NEXT
The Flyers are back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 7 p.m. as they play host to Xavier. This is their second meeting of the season and in the last game the Flyers won 74-65. In that match up the Flyers were led by sophomore Cassie Sant who finished with 16 points and six rebounds in 17 minutes of action. Junior Sam MacKay add 12 and senior Elle Queen had 10 points, to go with a career-high five steals.
PLAY 4KAY
The Flyers will be wearing pink uniforms in three games this season to promote breast cancer research. Dayton unveiled the uniforms against St. Bonaventure. UD also donned the jerseys at La Salle on Feb. 15. They are wearing them today as well versus Saint Louis. An auction for the jerseys and shorts will be held today. The mission of the initiative, which was brought to life in 2007: a nation of coaches raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond. The Kay Yow Cancer Fund is the official charity of the initiative.
LAST TIME OUT
The Flyers overcame an 11-point halftime deficit to defeat La Salle 58-49 Feb. 15 at Tom Gola Arena. UD outscored La Salle 36-16 in the second half to pull out the Atlantic 10 victory. Freshman Andrea Hoover tied her career high with 22 points and pulled down a career-high nine rebounds to pace UD. Senior Justine Raterman 20 points and equaled her career high with three blocked shots.
