at McKendree: audio | video | live stats
at Illinois Springfield: audio | video | live stats

SETTING THE SCENE
With non-conference play all wrapped up, UMSL opens up the New Year by resuming Great Lakes Valley Conference play. The Tritons, winners of seven straight, travel to McKendree on Friday before a trek up I-55 to Illinois-Springfield on Sunday. UMSL is 1-0 in league play, having defeated Maryville 69-35, in the GLVC opener on December 7 at home.

WHAT A START
With an 8-1 record, UMSL is off to its best start since 1988-89, when that squad began with a 12-1 mark. Its current seven-game win streak is also the longest since a 12-game stretch in '88-89. The Tritons concluded non-conference play with a 7-1 mark.

LAST TIME OUT
UMSL went 2-0 at the Kentucky Wesleyan Fairfield Inn Christmas Classic December 21-22. The Tritons defeated the host Panthers, 84-56, before an 80-61 win over Davis & Elkins.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
McKendree is 6-3 overall and 1-0 in the GLVC. The Bearcats also competed in the Fairfield Inn Christmas Classic, defeating Davis & Elkins (104-95) before falling to Kentucky Wesleyan (69-59). Caty Ponce leads McKendree with 18.1 points and 3.6 assists per game, while Brittany Willis follows with 11.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. The Bearcats were picked to finish sixth in the GLVC East Division Preseason Coaches Poll.

Illinois Springfield will host Maryville on Friday night before entertaining the Tritons on Sunday. The Prairie Stars enter that contest with a 4-5 record, including an 0-1 mark in the GLVC. UIS is also riding a three-game win streak, which includes a 76-63 win over Oakland City in its last outing. Megan Bergerud averages 16.3 points per game to pace the Prairie Stars.

SERIES HISTORIES
UMSL is 19-4 all-time against McKendree, which includes a 65-50 win last season in St. Louis.

The Tritons are 5-1 all-time against Illinois-Springfield. Last season, UMSL defeated the Prairie Stars on the road, 60-55, but suffered a 73-63 loss in the home finale.

An UMSL win over McKendree would...
... move the Tritons to 9-1 overall and 2-0 in the GLVC.
... make the Tritons 2-0 in the GLVC for the first-time ever.
... increase the current win streak to eight games.
... improve the Tritons to 20-4 all-time against McKendree.

BALANCED ATTACK
All five UMSL starters are averaging double figures in scoring, led by senior Hazaria Washington's 13.2 points per game. All five starters have led the Tritons in scoring in at least one game this season, including senior Jessica Zavoral who has been the top scorer four times. She averages 12.4 points on the year.

SAME FIVE EVERY TIME
UMSL has used the same five starters in every game this season - Alyssa Like, Jessica Zavoral, Alexis Lawrence, Hazaria Washington and Devonna Smith.

SENIOR CORE
Much of UMSL's success this season can be credited to the Tritons' four seniors. All four start and lead the team in nearly every statistical category. A breakdown of their statistical contributions include: Hazaria Washington (13.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.3 spg); Jessica Zavoral (12.4 ppg, 3.6 apg); Devonna Smith (12.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg); and Alyssa Like (10.2 ppg, 3.1 apg).

LAWRENCE WITH THE HOT HAND
Junior Alexis Lawrence is the fifth Triton starter to average double figures, chipping in 10.3 points per game. She has netted double-figures in the last three games, averaging 18.3 points per game during that stretch, while also shooting 70.3 percent from the field, including 65 percent (13-of-20) from three-point range. Lawrence leads the team with 22 three-pointers and has made at least one in every game this season.

GLVC LEADERS
UMSL leads the GLVC in seven categories, including: scoring defense (50.4 ppg), scoring margin (+26.2), free throw percentage (78.0), field goal percentage defense (.333), three-point field goal percentage defense (.220), rebounding margin (+11.7) and assist-turnover ratio (1.3).

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
UMSL is holding opponents to just 50.4 points per game, which leads the GLVC and is second nationally in NCAA Division II. The Tritons have held three opponents to under 40 points this season, including Maryville (35), Harris-Stowe (36) and Culver-Stockton (33).

FREE THROW ACCURACY
UMSL is taking advantage of its trip to the free throw line, connecting on 78/0 percent of its attempts, which leads the GLVC and is ninth in NCAA Division II. Individually, senior Alyssa Like is 22-of-23 (95.7 percent), while senior Hazaria Washington is 30-of-35 (.857). Washington was just a 59.6 percent (62-of-104) shooter at the charity stripe last season.

TEAM REBOUND
The Tritons rank eighth nationally with a rebounding margin of 11.7. UMSL has outrebounded all but one opponent this season – equaling Grand Valley State with 36 boards each.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Senior Devonna Smith has three double-doubles this season and is the owner of 20 in her career.

LOOKING AHEAD
UMSL returns home next weekend, hosting Wisconsin-Parkside  on Thursday before entertaining Lewis on Saturday. The Tritons are 5-0 at home this season, including 1-0 in the GLVC.