HENRICO -- Saint Louis emerged victorious in a contest which featured nine different lead changes, besting Fordham 68-60 in first round 2026 Betterment Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Championship action.

Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year Alyssa Koerkenmeier recorded her 12th double-double of the season consisting of 21 points and 14 rebounds. The All-Conference Third Team selection also recorded four assists which matched career high. Koerkenmeier's effort was a crucial towards the Billikens 34-24 points in the paint advantage. 

Saint Louis will face sixth-seeded La Salle in the final of four second round games, to be held at 7:30 p.m. The Billikens bested the Explorers 66-57 in the lone regular season meeting.
Zya Nugent compiled 14 points in the victory and Jahda Denis 13 in the victory. Saint Louis shot an even 46 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range. This is now its fourth straight season winning a game in championship play.

"Really excited for our women, for their determination and toughness," Saint Louis head coach Rebecca Tillett opened. "They kept thinking through the game today and we thought that was going to be really important to our success. We had some challenging outcomes leading into this tournament, yet we felt all along that we were a together team, that loved each other and was learning. I thought our women really committed to staying in that place and believing that something could happen today."

Fordham's point guard, Carryn Easley took top scoring honors for Fordham with a career high 23 points, while teammate London Liley also netted a personal best with her 10 points. The Rams brought down 17 offensive rebounds, had 24 points from their bench and grabbed 12 steals.

"Really proud of our freshmen showing the potential and future, playing with the tenacity and grit that they did," Fordham head coach Bridgette Mitchell stated. "Credit to SLU for executing its scout. We really showed this year what our youth is capable of." 

The beginning of this game saw each side try to establish the first edge of the game and that came when Fordham scored six consecutive points, four coming off Kalia Berry's hands. 
Saint Louis had a response at the ready, specifically a 7-0 response, fighting back to find an advantage.

Things would balance out with the teams tied at 17 heading into the second quarter.

Seven would be a consistent number for the Billikens as it would once again open the second period continuing a 7-0 run and then did it once again into the middle stages to activate a Fordham timeout.

Fordham had cut its deficit to a single point before Koerkenmeier was twice fed in the post and Isabel Tillett found an open look from three-point range.
This run extended to 12-1 with Mia Bergstrom putting the finishing touches on it converting on a three-point shot. 

Saint Louis's teamwork was on display for the entire first half as the Billikens assisted on 10 of its 12 made baskets.

"It just showed the connections we've built off the court," Nugent said. "What you build off the floor translates to on the floor and today we did that. We've been putting goals up and we showed we are capable. The more we share it, the more the rim opens for everybody."

Down by 12 points, Fordham battled back with Ornella Niankan beating the halftime buzzer with her triple from beyond the arc. This placed Saint Louis in front 34-28 at halftime. 
With the teams separated by eight points, Fordham went on another surge to get to within two points, before Denis maneuvered through the Rams defense for an uncontested layup.
When the dust settled, Fordham narrowly won the third quarter, cutting its deficit to 50-45. 

Liley's insertion for Fordham in the second half was an addition which certainly helped the Rams cause. Liley, who played all of one minute in February had two three-point plays, the latter of which placed Fordham to within two points, a difference which remained through the final quarter's media timeout.

Just when it appeared that Saint Louis was going to separate itself once again, Liley converted another and-one play.

Fordham remained down one, when it committed a turnover. Saint Louis capitalized with a pair of Koerkenmeier baskets. Down five, Mitchell opted to call a timeout.
Out of the timeout, the Rams committed an offensive foul. SLU then extended its advantage when Nugent drove down to the basket and made a shot which rattled through the bottom of the net. 

"Coach Tillett brought me here for a reason and it was to help lead these girls into moments like this and today we did that," observed Nugent. "We didn't have a good regular season, but when you come into the tournament it's 0-0 and anything can happen. We showed we were ready to fight and win the rest of the games we have in front of us."

"My job is to get our team to play our best and we haven't seen it yet, so what does it look like if we do that against La Salle tomorrow," pondered Tillett.