THIS WEEK IN UMSL WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
The University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team takes a three-game win streak on the road Thursday night when the Tritons travel to GLVC West Division leader Quincy. UMSL then closes out the home portion of its schedule on Saturday, entertaining Illinois-Springfield.

The Tritons, 9-4 in the GLVC, enter the week one game out of second place in the league division standings, trailing Maryville and Missouri S&T who are 10-5.

UMSL improved to 14-9 overall with a pair of wins at home last weekend, including a 71-69 victory over William Jewell on Thursday, and a 64-62 double overtime win against Rockhurst on Saturday.  

WINNING SEASON
With its win over Rockhurst, the Tritons clinched their first winning season since 2005-06 (16-12). Additionally, its 14 wins are the most since that same year, while its nine GLVC wins equal the nine won by the 05-06 squad.

close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades... AND UMSL WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
UMSL's last seven games have been decided by five points or less, while 13 of its 23 games this season have been decided by the same margin. The Tritons are 9-4 in those contests.

YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN US ON SPORTSCENTER
UMSL's 71-69 win over William Jewell last Thursday had an ending no one could have scripted. After senior Devonna Smith missed a pair of free throws with nine seconds to play, William Jewell raced the ball down the court where Chelsea Meeks heaved up a one-handed three-pointer that hit nothing but net, giving the Cardinals a 69-68 lead. With 0.6 seconds on the clock, UMSL returned to the floor following a timeout with junior Jessica Zavoral inbounding the ball. She found an open Angela Johnson at midcourt. Johnson caught the pass, turned and banked in the game-winner. The final two baskets were so bizarre that even ESPN's SportCenter aired it.

GLVC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior Devonna Smith was named the GLVC Women's Basketball Player of the Week on Monday after averaging 16.5 points, 15.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals, 2.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game in UMSL's two wins last week.  

SIZING UP THE TRITONS
On the season, UMSL has been led by Devonna Smith, who averages team-bests of 13.7 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 49.2 percent from the field. Senior Angela Johnson adds 9.5 points per game, while junior Hazaria Washington averages 9.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Quincy is 13-10 overall, including 11-4 in the GLVC, but the Hawks have lost two straight after winning four in a row. Lucy Cramsey and Kelly Buresh provide a one-two scoring punch, averaging 11.9 and 11.7 rebounds per game, respectively. Cramsey also paces the team with 8.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.

Illinois-Springfield enters a Thursday road game at Maryville with a 5-18 record, including a 2-13 mark in the GLVC. The Prairie Stars, who have lost six in a row, are led by Megan Bergerud's 12.9 points per game.

THE SERIES
Quincy leads the all-time series 39-17 and has won 13 straight, including a 47-42 decision in the first meeting this season in St. Louis on January 31. The Tritons used a 16-5 run to open the second half and erase a 29-20 halftime lead, but then endured a nearly nine minute scoring drought. UMSL finished the game shooting 27.6 percent, while Quincy shot at 32.6 percent clip. Senior Devonna Smith recorded 11 points, nine rebounds and three steals for the Tritons.

UMSL has won all five previous meeting with Illinois-Springfield, including a 60-55 verdict in Springfield, Ill., on February 2 in the season's first meeting. Junior Jessica Zavoral scored eight of her 12 points in the final 1:25 to help the Tritons to the win.

IN A DEFENSIVE STATE OF MIND
In GLVC-only games, UMSL ranks sixth in scoring defense, allowing 60.3 points per game. The Tritons have held four league foes to 50 points or less (McKendree, 50; Rockhurst, 46; William Jewell, 41; and Quincy, 47).

ON THE OFFENSIVE
UMSL has grabbed 38.3 percent of its rebounds on the offensive end this season and are out-rebounding its opponents, 339-268, on the offensive end. The Tritons average 14.7 offensive boards per game, which leads the GLVC. Senior Devonna Smith (3.7) is tied individually with Southern Indiana's Anna Hackert in that category.

DOUBLE VISION
Senior Devonna Smith registered her sixth and seventh double-doubles of the season last Thursday and Saturday, while junior Hazaria Washington has four double-doubles.

DISHIN' AND STEALIN'
Junior Kelly McGovern paces the squad with 91 assists and 42 steals. She ranks fifth in the GLVC in assists per game (4.0) and 10th in steals per game (1.8).

MAKING A NAME FOR HERSELF
Junior Jessica Zavoral has scored in double figures in four of the last five games and is averaging 13.0 points per game during that stretch. She is coming off a career-best 18 points in the double overtime win against Rockhurst.
 
TOP 10 ASSISTS
Senior Deaven Omohundro ranks 10th all-time in career assists, having dished out 193.

FRESHMAN ORIENTATION
Freshman Kelly Kunkel has gone from averaging seven minutes per game in the first eight games of the season to starting the last seven games. She is averaging 6.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game during that stretch.

REBOUND THAT BASKETBALL
Senior Devonna Smith ranks third in the GLVC in rebounding (9.8 rpg), trailing only Maryville's Abby Duethman (9.9 rpg). That average currently ranks sixth on the single season charts. Smith has 442 career rebounds. She snagged 226 of those last season - which ranks eighth on the single season charts. Smith sits at 216 caroms this season and needs six to enter that category for this year.

She has pulled down double figure rebounds in each of the last four games and is averaging 13.8 boards per game during that stretch.

BLOCK PARTY
Devonna Smith has 39 career blocked shots, which ranks seventh all-time.

TRITON TIDBITS
- UMSL won four straight games earlier this season for the first time since 2005-06.
- The Tritons posted their first-ever win in program history over Drury this season and snapped a six-game losing streak to Missouri S&T.
- UMSL is 3-0 in overtime games this season.
- Junior Hazaria Washington became the first player in program history to earn GLVC Player of the Week honors this season when she earned the weekly award Dec. 3.
- Head Coach Katie Vaughn was the first women's basketball head coach to record a victory (53-50 vs. Hannibal-LaGrange) in her debut since Shelly Ethridge did so in 1997.

UP NEXT
UMSL closes out the regular season next Thursday at Maryville.