NEW YORK (Interstat) — In a game defined more by grit than grace, the Saint Louis Billikens outlasted the Fordham Rams 67-57 in overtime Wednesday afternoon in an Atlantic 10 women’s basketball clash at Rose Hill Gym.

The contest, witnessed by 1,800 fans, saw both teams struggle offensively for long stretches, but Saint Louis found a decisive extra gear in the extra period, outscoring Fordham 12-2 to secure its third consecutive victory and push its record above .500 at 11-10. Fordham fell to 9-10.

The most critical sequence of the game did not occur on a single shot, but rather in a suffocating defensive stretch by Saint Louis that spanned the final minutes of regulation and the entirety of overtime. With the score tied at 55 and under a minute to play in the fourth quarter, Fordham had multiple opportunities to take the lead or win the game. The Rams forced a Saint Louis turnover and got a stop, but could not convert on their own end, including a missed three-pointer by Lakresha Edwards at the buzzer that sent the game to an extra five minutes.

That missed opportunity seemed to carry over for the home team. In overtime, Fordham’s offense completely seized up. The Rams managed only a single free throw from London Liley with 27 seconds left in the period, missing all nine of their field goal attempts in overtime. Saint Louis, meanwhile, methodically pulled away. Alexia Nelson hit a crucial jump shot with 1:30 remaining to give the Billikens a four-point cushion, and the visitors sealed the game by making 8 of 10 free throws in the final 36 seconds.

The overtime dominance was a stark contrast to a game that was tightly contested and often sloppy throughout regulation. Fordham started strong, using an early 11-0 run to take a 16-10 lead after the first quarter, fueled by interior play and transition opportunities. Saint Louis, however, chipped away, leveraging its defense to create offense. The Billikens forced 25 Fordham turnovers, converting them into 18 points, which proved vital on a afternoon where shooting was at a premium.

Both teams shot under 35% from the field. Saint Louis finished at 35.6% on 21-of-59 shooting, while Fordham was worse at 30.1% on 22-of-73. The three-point line offered little relief, with the Billikens hitting 4 of 18 and the Rams 5 of 23. The difference came at the foul line and in taking care of the ball late. Saint Louis attempted 28 free throws, making 21, while Fordham went 8-of-12. The Billikens also committed only two of their 18 turnovers in the overtime period.

Alexia Nelson led all scorers with 19 points for Saint Louis, adding four rebounds and three assists while playing a game-high 42 minutes. Zya Nugent and Jahda Denis each added 14 points, with Nugent grabbing nine rebounds and Denis contributing four assists. Alyssa Koerkenmeier anchored the defense with 12 points, six rebounds and four blocked shots.

For Fordham, Tia Morgan scored 11 points, and Carryn Easley finished with 10 points, six assists and five rebounds. Precious Omoshola pulled down eight rebounds. The Rams dominated the offensive glass, collecting 24 rebounds to Saint Louis’s 13, but could not translate that significant advantage into enough second-chance points to overcome their turnovers and cold shooting.

Saint Louis, which entered the game having beaten Dayton and La Salle, continues its conference schedule at home against Loyola Chicago on Saturday. Fordham, coming off a win over Saint Bonaventure, looks to rebound on the road at George Washington on Sunday.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Fordham had been projected with a 53.2% probability to win. Instead, Saint Louis’s resilience in a defensive struggle and its composure in the extra period delivered a critical road victory.