Box Score

KIRKSVILLE, MO. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team struggled offensively on Thursday night as the Tritons suffered a 70-55 decision at Truman State in Great Lakes Valley Conference action.  
 
UMSL shot just 33.3 percent from the field, including 17.6 percent (3-of-17) from three-point range. The Tritons slip to 11-3 overall, including 4-2 in the GLVC, while Truman State improves to 10-4 and 4-2 in the league with the win.
 
The Bulldogs connected at a 43.2 percent clip from the floor and went 25-of-30 (83.3 percent) at the free throw line.
 
Despite the loss, UMSL received a season-high 16 points off the bench from junior Kelly McGovern. Senior Alyssa Like also reached double figures with 12 points.
 
Truman State took a 36-24 lead into halftime after scoring the final five points of the opening stanza. Earlier, the Bulldogs used a 9-0 run to turn a 9-8 deficit into a 17-9 lead at the 6:45 mark. Like ended the run with a jumper 35 seconds later, giving UMSL its first field goal in nearly eight minutes, and junior Tierra Snow followed with a jumper to pull the Tritons within 17-13, but five Truman State points quickly pushed the lead back to nine.
 
The Bulldogs quickly extended the lead to 40-26 early in the second half before a 7-2 run by the Tritons cut it to 42-33. However, the Bulldogs followed with a 10-3 run and took their largest lead of the game at 52-36 with 13:20 to play. A McGovern three-pointer at the 7:43 mark pulled UMSL within 57-48, but the Tritons would never get any closer than eight points.
 
Truman State owned a 34-31 rebounding advantage despite an 11-7 edge by the Tritons on the offensive end. However, UMSL managed just six second chance points. Senior Devonna Smith pulled down seven rebounds and collected three steals, playing just 19 minutes after fouling out.
 
UMSL returns to action on Saturday, hosting No. 19 Quincy at 1 p.m.
 
TRITON TIDBITS: Truman State and UMSL met for the first time since the 1995-96 season when the Bulldogs posted a 65-44 win in St. Louis… Truman State leads the all-time series, 16-14… Truman State has won 22 straight home games… this was Kelly McGovern's first double-figure scoring game of the season and her first since recording 24 points at Quincy on Feb. 21, 2013… senior Devonna Smith had a string of five straight double-doubles snapped… UMSL is shooting just 23.7 percent (9-of-38) from three-point range in its current two-game losing streak.