DAYTON - The University of Dayton Women's Basketball team won in dynamic fashion over Saint Louis University on Wednesday, 87-76, at UD Arena.
The Flyers (12-7, 6-2 A-10) get back on the winning track while the Billikens (7-13, 1-6 A-10) fall again in Atlantic 10 play.
GAME BREAKDOWN
1st Quarter: Dayton 20, Saint Louis 17
- Saint Louis gained possession off the tip, but senior Ivy Wolf quickly stole the ball and found senior Arianna Smith for the Flyers' opening basket.
- Sophomore Jaydn Johnson added her first points of the game off an assist from graduate student Nicole Stephens.
- Smith continued her impressive start by drawing a foul, converting the and-one, and following it up with a layup.
- Stephens joined the scoring with a smooth teardrop at the 6:58 mark.
- Back-to-back baskets by Stephens and senior Shannon Wheeler helped the Flyers maintain a slight lead at the 3:03 mark.
2nd Quarter: Dayton 44, Saint Louis 35
- Freshman Olivia Leung opened the quarter with a well-executed layup, while Smith delivered consecutive buckets to keep Dayton in control.
- Stephens extended the lead with another basket, prompting a Saint Louis timeout at the 7:09 mark.
- Wolf got her first points of the game with a sharp pull-up jumper off a fast break at 5:03
- Junior Shantavia Dawkins added a key steal with the press defense, maintaining the Flyers' momentum at 3:19.
- Graduate student Rikki Harris contributed crucial points, including a three-point play, while freshman Molly O'Riordan capitalized on a Saint Louis turnover with her first bucket at the 1:20 mark.
3rd Quarter: Dayton 66, Saint Louis 59
- Stephens showcased her versatility with a smooth turnaround jumper in the paint.
- On the fast break, Leung connected with Harris for a critical basket at the 8:21 mark.
- The Flyers surged ahead with a 7-0 run, extending their lead to 51-38 before the first media timeout.
- Wheeler knocked down Dayton's first three-pointer of the half, courtesy of a pinpoint pass from Harris at 5:04.
- The physical nature of the game led to frequent trips to the free-throw line, and Dayton capitalized by adding four key points.
- Wheeler continued her hot streak with another three-pointer at the 3:45 mark.
- In the final moments of the quarter, Wheeler delivered a clutch block, setting up Stephens for a buzzer-beating jumper to secure Dayton's lead at 66-59 heading into the final quarter
4th Quarter: Dayton 87, Saint Louis 76
- The Flyers opened the second half with a series of physical fouls, setting an intense tone. However, neither team managed to capitalize offensively during the early stretch.
- Smith broke through St. Louis's zone defense, finding Stephens for a clutch three-pointer at the 7:53 mark to energize the Flyers.
- Leung showcased her finesse with a smooth left-handed finish at the rim, extending Dayton's lead to 71-61 at the 6:32 mark.
- Smith continued to dominate in the paint, adding another bucket at the 4:21 mark to keep momentum in Dayton's favor.
- O'Riordan drained her second three-pointer of the game, forcing a Billikens timeout at 3:35. The shot sparked a four-minute scoring drought for St. Louis.
- Back-to-back buckets from the Flyers—a strong layup by Smith followed by a corner three-pointer from Lear—prompted another St. Louis timeout at the 2:39 mark.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- 23 - Arianna Smith earned her new season high 23 points this game
- 6 - Tonight's match-up marked the sixth double-double for Arianna Smith (23 points and 10 rebounds tonight)
- 35 - The bench came up big for the team tonight, contributing an impressive 35 points to fuel the victory and showcase the squad's depth.
- 6—Freshman Molly O'Riordan made the most of her time on the court, going a perfect 2-for-2 from beyond the arc in just six minutes of action. Highlighting her impressive performance, she drained season- and career-high two three-pointers, giving her team a crucial spark off the bench.
UP NEXT
The Flyers will return to the friendly confines of UD Arena on Sunday, Jan. 26 against Richmond. Game time is at 1 p.m.
