THIS WEEK IN UMSL WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
The University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team concludes a three-game roadswing this week, beginning Thursday at Drury. The Tritons then travel to Missouri S&T on Saturday.   

SIZING UP THE TRITONS
UMSL improved to 11-8 overall, including 6-5 in the GLVC with a 60-55 road win at Illinois-Springfield last Saturday. Junior Jessica Zavoral scored eight of her 12 points in the final 1:25 to help the Tritons to the win.

UMSL is led by senior forward Devonna Smith, who averages team-bests of 13.3 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, while shooting 49.7 percent from the field. Junior Hazaria Washington adds 9.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, while senior Angela Johnson follows with 9.6 points per game.

IN A DEFENSIVE STATE OF MIND
In GLVC-only games, UMSL leads the conference in scoring defense, allowing just 58.4 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).

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Drury snapped a four-game losing streak last Saturday by posting a 66-54 win over Rockhurst, improving to 9-10 overall, including 3-8 in the GLVC. Katie Pritchard leads the Panthers with 15.3 points and 3.4 assists per game and is shooting 39.8 percent (43-of-108) from three-point range.

Missouri S&T stands at 12-7 overall, including 8-3 in the GLVC and will host Maryville on Thursday before entertaining the Tritons on Saturday. Hailee Parks averages 14.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game to pace the Lady Miners.

THE SERIES
UMSL is 1-17 all-time against Drury and defeated the Panthers for the first time in program history earlier this season. The Tritons posted a 58-56 win on Jan. 26 in St. Louis behind 14 points from sophomore Kelly McGovern and 12 from senior Devonna Smith.

Missouri S&T leads the all-time series with UMSL, 36-16, and has won six straight meetings, including a 57-51 decision on Jan. 24 this season.

ON THE OFFENSIVE
UMSL has grabbed 38.1 percent of its rebounds on the offensive end this season and are out-rebounding its opponents, 274-230, on the offensive end. The Tritons average 14.4 offensive boards per game, which ranks third in the GLVC, while senior Devonna Smith (3.6) is tied with Southern Indiana's Anna Hackert individually in that category.

DOUBLE VISION
Senior Devonna Smith and junior Hazaria Washington each have four double-doubles this season. Smith's include 10 points, 12 rebounds at William Jewell (1/19); 20 points, 14 rebounds at Rockhurst (1/17); 29 points, 15 rebounds vs. Culver-Stockton (12/19); and 21 points, 12 rebounds at Lincoln (12/1).

Washington's include 16 points, 10 rebounds vs. Bellarmine (1/10); 17 points, 11 rebounds vs. Missouri Baptist (11/27); 17 points, 10 rebounds at Christian Brothers (11/20) and 12 points, 12 rebounds vs. Hannibal-LaGrange (11/12).

DISHIN' AND STEALIN'
Junior Kelly McGovern paces the squad with 77 assists and 36 steals. She ranks fifth in the GLVC in assists per game (4.1) and seventh in steals per game (1.9).

STEPPING UP AS A SENIOR
Senior Angela Johnson is averaging 9.9 points per game this season, nearly doubling last year's average of 5.9 points per game.
 
TOP 10 ASSISTS
Senior Deaven Omohundro etched her name in the UMSL record books last Saturday at Illinois-Springfield. She recorded three assists to move her career total to 189, which is tied for 10th all-time in program history.

FRESHMAN ORIENTATION
Freshman Kelly Kunkel has gone from averaging seven minutes per game in the first eight games of the season to a starting role. Kunkel has started each of the last three games and is averaging 6.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game during that stretch.

REBOUND THAT BASKETBALL
Senior Devonna Smith ranks third in the GLVC in rebounding (8.9 rpg). That average currently ties the sixth best single season total. Smith has 387 career rebounds and snagged 226 last season - which ranks eighth on the single season charts.

BLOCK PARTY
Devonna Smith has 35 career blocked shots, which ties for eighth all-time.

TRITON TIDBITS
- UMSL held three straight opponents (McKendree, Rockhurst, William Jewell) to a combined 26.5 percent shooting.
- 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.
- 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.
- First-year 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 hosts William Jewell next Thursday (Feb. 14) and Rockhurst next Saturday (Feb. 16)