NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — Alexia Nelson scored 19 points and Zya Nugent added 16 as the Saint Louis Billikens held off a late rally to defeat the SMU Mustangs 70-67 in a non-conference women’s basketball game Tuesday afternoon at Allen Arena.

In a contest defined by defense and missed opportunities, the Billikens never trailed in the second half but had to withstand a frantic final minute to secure their second win of the season.

Saint Louis appeared to have the game in hand, leading by six points with under 30 seconds to play. But SMU’s Tyi Skinner hit a deep 3-pointer with six seconds remaining, cutting the deficit to 68-67. The Billikens’ Zhykera Brown was immediately fouled and made both free throws to push the lead back to three.

On the ensuing possession, Skinner’s potential game-tying 3-point attempt was blocked by Hannah Wallace as time expired, sealing the victory for Saint Louis.

The game was a struggle offensively for both teams. Saint Louis shot 38% from the field, while SMU managed just 36% shooting. The difference came at the free-throw line, where the Billikens converted 23 of 27 attempts compared to SMU’s 12 of 18.

Nelson, a guard from Brooklyn, New York, led all scorers and added three rebounds and two assists in 33 minutes. Nugent, from Denison, Texas, contributed four rebounds and two assists to her 16-point performance. Jahda Denis of Montreal facilitated the offense with five assists and 11 points, while Brown finished with 14 points.

SMU was led by a strong interior performance from Anaya Brown, who scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Zahra King added 14 points and five rebounds, and Skinner chipped in 13 points and four rebounds for the Mustangs.

Saint Louis took control of the game with a 22-point third quarter, turning a one-point halftime deficit into a seven-point lead heading into the final period. The Billikens’ defense was active throughout, recording eight steals and eight blocks, with Alyssa Koerkenmeier and Jada Tiggett each contributing two blocks.

Despite the loss, SMU dominated the offensive glass, pulling down 16 offensive rebounds to Saint Louis’ eight, but could not consistently convert those second chances into points. Both teams were careless with the ball, committing 17 turnovers apiece.

The win improves Saint Louis to 2-5 on the season, while SMU falls to 1-5. Both teams return to action Wednesday at the same venue, with Saint Louis facing Stetson and SMU taking on Winthrop.