SOMERS, WIS. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team shot a season-high 52 percent from the field, but was plagued by 18 turnovers in a 76-68 loss at Wisconsin-Parkside on Saturday afternoon in Great Lakes Valley Conference action.
 
The Tritons trailed by as many as 12 in the second half, but hit a couple of three-pointer baskets in the final minutes, including one from junior Kelly Kunkel at the 1:46 mark to make it 67-63 and another from senior Alexis Lawrence to pull UMSL within 69-63 with 1:17 to play. However, the Rangers connected on 9-of-10 at the free throw line to help seal the victory.
 
UMSL slips to 6-6 overall, including 2-2 in the GLVC, while UW-Parkside improves to 10-4 and 3-2 in the league.
 
The Tritons' 18 turnovers resulted in 13 UWP steals and a 20-8 advantage in points off turnovers.
 
Lawrence scored a team-best 17 points, draining five three-pointers, while redshirt freshman Jordan Fletcher netted all seven field goal attempts in scoring a season-best 15 points. Fletcher also blocked three shots and grabbed nine rebounds, coming one board short of her third straight double-double.
 
Junior Kelly Kunkel followed with 13 points, going 3-of-3 from the floor and 5-of-6 from the free throw line, while senior Kelly McGovern tallied 10 points and eight rebounds. UMSL owned a 31-30 rebounding advantage.
 
UW-Parkside shot 38.9 percent from the field, but was 11-of-24 (45.8 percent) from three-point range and 23-of-27 (85.2 percent) at the free throw line.
 
The Rangers used a 16-4 run to close out the first half, taking a 35-24 lead into the break. Senior Tierra Snow scored on an offensive put back to put the Tritons on top, 20-19, at the 7:25 mark, but the Rangers followed with eight unanswered to ignite their run. The Tritons started the game by connecting on 6-of-10 field goals, but finished 3-of-11 and delivered their last field goal on Fletcher's lay-in with 4:44 to go. UMSL committed 12 of its turnovers in the first half, with UWP collecting 10 steals.
 
A Lawrence three-pointer capped a 6-2 run to open the second half, pulling the Tritons within 37-30, but the Rangers responded with an 8-3 run to put the lead back into double figures.
 
UMSL returns home on Thursday for one game, hosting Truman State at 5:30 p.m.