Illinois State defeats Saint Louis University 72-55

Illinois State defeated Saint Louis University 72-55 on Saturday afternoon at Chaifetz Arena.

Despite a defensive effort that yielded 21 combined steals and blocks, the Billikens could not overcome a decisive fourth-quarter surge from the Redbirds.

The Redbirds opened the fourth quarter with a 16-4 run, stretching their lead to 63-42 midway through the frame. While the Billikens staged a frantic 11-0 run in under a minute to cut the deficit to 70-55, the comeback fell short.

The team recorded 12 steals and nine blocks, forcing a total of 22 Illinois State turnovers. A particularly dominant stretch occurred in the second quarter when Saint Louis held Illinois State without a field goal for more than five minutes, forcing eight turnovers in that period alone.

While the Billikens recorded 14 assists on 20 made field goals, they fell to Illinois State 72-55. The gap became most evident in the first quarter, where Illinois State responded to an early 8-5 Saint Louis lead with an 11-0 run to take a 16-8 advantage.

Tyonna Bailey led the scoring efforts for the Billikens, finishing with 18 points. She shot 6-for-15 from the field and was perfect from the free-throw line, going 4-for-4. D’Myjah Bolds provided a near double-double, contributing nine points and grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds, while also adding four blocks and three steals.

Jahda Denis recorded a career-high seven assists to help distribute the play. Denis also contributed eight points and two steals to the effort. Jameela James added defensive depth with three blocks and three steals during her 23 minutes of play.

Saint louis university st louis mo campus

Player	Points	Notable Stats
Tyonna Bailey	18	6-for-15 FG, 4-for-4 FT
Jahda Denis	8	7 assists (career high), 2 steals
Jameela James	—	3 blocks, 3 steals

As noted by Saint Louis University, the mascot is a mythical figure representing “things as they ought to be.” The figure was originally patented in 1908 by Florence Pretz, a Missouri art teacher and illustrator.

The connection to the university’s athletic teams is rooted in early 20th-century lore. Some accounts suggest the name arose when a cartoonist caricatured football coach John Bender as a Billiken in 1910, while others credit a local drugstore proprietor, Billy Gunn, for the association. Today, the Billiken serves as a symbol of hard work and innovation for the entire campus community.

The upcoming matchup against No. 18 Missouri State will be a test for the Saint Louis squad.