ST. LOUIS (Interstat) — Saint Louis held off Dayton for a 62-58 women’s basketball victory Sunday at Chaifetz Arena. The Billikens secured the Atlantic 10 win despite shooting just 33.9% from the floor. They compensated at the free-throw line, making 18 of 26 attempts compared to Dayton’s 9 of 15. Alyssa Koerkenmeier led Saint Louis with 12 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks. Zya Nugent added 18 points and Jahda Denis scored 17. Nayo Lear scored 17 points for the Flyers, who shot 36.1% overall. Dayton’s season record is now 9-9. Saint Louis improved to 10-10.

ST. LOUIS (Interstat) — In a grinding Atlantic 10 Conference clash defined more by defense and determination than offensive artistry, the Saint Louis Billikens outlasted the Dayton Flyers 62-58 in women’s basketball on Sunday at Chaifetz Arena. The victory leveled Saint Louis’s season record at 10-10 overall, while Dayton fell to an even 9-9. The most critical sequence unfolded in the final minute with the outcome hanging in the balance. Clinging to a 58-55 lead, Saint Louis’s defense forced a turnover from Dayton’s Nayo Lear, only to give it right back when Zhykera Brown coughed it up to Lear seconds later. Dayton’s Olivia Leung was fouled and calmly sank two free throws with 59.9 seconds left, slicing the deficit to a single point. On the ensuing possession, Saint Louis worked the ball to its top star, Alyssa Koerkenmeier, who drew a foul on a drive. The 6-foot-6 center from Saint Rose, Illinois, missed the first free throw but sank the second to make it 59-57 with 31 seconds remaining. Dayton called a timeout to set up a play, which resulted in Ajok Madol draining a clutch 3-pointer from the wing off an assist from Lear, putting the Flyers ahead 58-59 with just 26 seconds to play. The Billikens immediately called timeout. Out of the break, Jahda Denis of Montreal found a seam and connected on a deep 3-pointer, assisted by Zhykera Brown, to wrest the lead back for Saint Louis at 61-58 with 21 seconds left. Dayton had a chance to tie, but Nicole Stephens’ 3-point attempt was off the mark. Saint Louis secured the defensive rebound, and Zya Nugent was fouled. The guard from Denison, Texas, made one of two free throws with one second left to provide the final margin. The game was a struggle for both offenses from the outset. Saint Louis finished shooting just 33.9 percent from the field, while Dayton was only marginally better at 36.1 percent. The difference came largely at the free-throw line, where the Billikens converted 18 of 26 attempts compared to Dayton’s 9-of-15 performance. Saint Louis also dominated the interior defensively, blocking eight shots, led by Koerkenmeier’s six swats. Koerkenmeier was the anchor for Saint Louis, posting a double-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and those six blocks in 38 minutes. Her presence in the paint altered countless Dayton attempts and provided a crucial defensive backbone. Nugent led all scorers with 18 points and added seven rebounds. Denis contributed 17 points, four rebounds and four assists, though she also committed seven turnovers in a hectic performance. For Dayton, Lear, a sophomore from South Holland, Illinois, carried the offensive load with 17 points and six rebounds. Stephens added 12 points, and Leung of Calgary, Canada, chipped in nine points and seven rebounds. The Flyers’ offense was hampered by 16 turnovers and an inability to consistently finish inside against the Billiken defense, particularly Koerkenmeier. The game was a back-and-forth affair with neither team able to build a substantial lead. Saint Louis led 18-15 after a disjointed first quarter and took a 32-27 advantage into halftime. Dayton chipped away in the third, trailing by just four heading to the final period, setting the stage for the tense final minutes. The win gives Saint Louis a positive start to the conference slate at home, while Dayton will look to regroup quickly as both teams continue their A-10 schedules on Wednesday.

ST. LOUIS (Interstat) — Two Atlantic 10 women’s basketball teams seeking momentum will meet Sunday when the Dayton Flyers visit the Saint Louis Billikens at Chaifetz Arena. Both teams enter the contest with identical 9-8 records in all competitions. Dayton (9-8) is looking to rebound from an 85-67 home loss to Richmond on Wednesday. Saint Louis (9-8) arrives with some confidence after a 66-57 road victory at La Salle the same day. The matchup features two of the conference’s standout performers. Dayton will rely on guard Nicole Stephens, who is coming off an 18-point effort against Richmond and has been a consistent all-around force. In her last six games, Stephens is averaging 12.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists. She will be countered by Saint Louis forward Alyssa Koerkenmeier, who is dominating the paint. Koerkenmeier recorded a 20-point, 13-rebound double-double against La Salle and has posted three double-doubles in her last six outings, including a 25-point performance in a blowout win over UHSP on Dec. 28. Her recent stretch includes averages of 14.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. Dayton’s season has been marked by streaks, alternating wins and losses in its last five games. Saint Louis has struggled for consistency in conference play, with its win over La Salle snapping a three-game skid that included a 50-39 home loss to VCU. The Flyers’ offense, which averages 66.2 points per game, will test a Billikens defense that allows an average of 66.1. Saint Louis holds a slight scoring edge, averaging 70.2 points per contest. This game is the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams. They are scheduled to play again at Dayton on Feb. 14. Following this contest, Dayton will visit Duquesne on Wednesday. Saint Louis hits the road for a game at Fordham, also on Wednesday.