ST. LOUIS – Colgate made a run at its record sixth straight win to start the season, but Saint Louis pulled away at the end for a 61-51 decision Sunday.
 
The Raiders posted their highest-scoring first quarter of the young season to lead 20-13 at the first break. Then after Saint Louis drew level by halftime, Colgate opened the second half scoring the first nine points for a 35-26 edge, forcing a Billikens timeout with 5:37 showing.
 
That's when the hosts pulled it together, outscoring the Raiders 35-16 the rest of the way. A 50-29 rebounding edge was especially damaging, leading to a 17-7 margin in second-chance points that proved to be the difference.
 
Rachel Thompson in her homecoming led the Raiders with 14 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and tying Alexa Brodie for team honors with three steals. But the St. Louis native was just 4-of-14 from the field as Colgate was held to its lowest percentage from the field this season at 31.6.
 
Brodie was the only other Raider in double-figures, scoring 10 to go with her three steals and three assists. Ava Williams added seven boards to just miss her career high.
 
Both teams are now 5-1.
 
Bottom Line
• Saint Louis 61, Colgate 51
 
From the Source
• Head Coach Bill Cleary (On the game) "We were very stagnant offensively. We didn't really move well throughout the game like we did in the first quarter. We did a lot of watching and waiting for someone else to bail us out, which is obviously not our best brand of basketball.
 
"What makes us tough and what makes us the best is when we are moving and sharing the basketball. Yes, we struggled with their height a little bit, and I would like to have been better on the glass. But if we had moved better, those rebounding opportunities might have presented themselves.

"The best thing is this is nonconference and we can learn from it."
 
Stats of the Game
• The Raiders were vying to open a season 6-0 for the first time in program history.
• Colgate's 5-1 record still equals the program's best start, matching the 2003-04 Patriot League champions and the 2009-10 Raiders.
• Colgate went from its highest-scoring first quarter (20) to its lowest-scoring second quarter (6) of the young season.
• The Raiders with 11 points in the fourth quarter and 51 for the game also set season lows.
• Colgate continues to value the basketball. The Raiders committed just nine turnovers, marking their third game in a row in single digits.
• Colgate led in this one for 23:17 to Saint Louis' 11:23. But the Billikins took the lead for keeps 42-40 on Kendra Wilken's layup just before the third quarter buzzer.
• They then opened the fourth quarter on runs of 6-0 and 13-2 and were never threatened.
• Colgate for the second game in a row was without the services of injuries juniors Nia Ahart and Keelah Dixon.
• Wilken led all scorers with 15, with teammate Ciaja Harbison adding 14.
 
Gate Grab Bag
• Attendance at Chaifetz Arena was 689.
 
Up Next
• Colgate travels to the Chicago area for a Wednesday afternoon matchup at Northwestern.
• The Wildcats are 4-0 after Thursday's 69-48 victory over Valparaiso. They knocked off Loyola from the Patriot League 67-46 back on Nov. 10.
• Tipoff is 2 p.m. Central time from Evanston.