ST. LOUIS --  Defense was the name of the game in the first half of Missouri State’s non-conference match-up with Saint Louis Sunday afternoon, as the Lady Bears limited the Billikens to just 9-of-34 (.265) shooting to take a 26-23 lead into intermission. MSU used a 16-5 run to overcome an early five-point deficit, despite connecting on just 33.3 percent of its field goal attempts.

Missouri State broke out of the gate behind Casey Garrison’s six points in the first three minutes of the contest to build a 6-0 lead. But Saint Louis responded with an 11-0 run over a three-and-a-half minute stretch, keyed by Lorreal Jones’s seven points, to claim a five-point edge.

That’s when the Lady Bears went to work, getting a basket in the paint from Lacey Boshe at the 13-minute mark to start their critical scoring run. MSU would have to wait nearly three minutes for its next bucket, but SLU would need even longer than that to score its next points. The Lady Bear defense held the Billikens without a point for nearly six minutes, allowing MSU to retake the lead.

A Jasmine Malone jumper, followed by another Shorter field goal stretched the MSU advantage to 22-16, matching the Lady Bears’ largest lead of the half.

MSU was able to gain the upper hand despite SLU’s effort on the glass that netted 11 offensive caroms.

Garrison and Shorter paced the Missouri State attack with six points apiece in the opening half.