MANKATO, MINN. – A 12-1 run to open the fourth quarter helped the University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team to a 61-52 road victory at Minnesota State, Mankato on Sunday afternoon.
 
The Tritons overcame a nine-point third quarter deficit in the win, improving to 2-2 overall. Minnesota State, an NCAA Tournament team a year ago, falls to 0-3. The Mavericks were playing their home opener today.
 
Junior Shea O'Brien led UMSL with a season-high 15 points, while junior Robneisha Lee added 10 points. All nine players that saw action got into the scoring column.
 
Minnesota State reeled off nine unanswered points in the third quarter for its largest lead of the game at 37-28 with 5:48 to play. However, the Tritons followed with a 13-4 run over the next 5:43 to knot the score at 41-41, but a three-pointer by MSU's Madison Lee gave the Mavericks a 44-41 advantage after three quarters played.
 
Freshman Sydney Skaggs scored six of UMSL's first 12 points in the fourth quarter, including four at the free throw line. The Tritons were 10-of-12 at the charity strip in the final 10 minutes of play in which they outscored Minnesta State, 20-12. UMSL finished the contest 12-of-16 at the line, while Skaggs had a season-best eight points.
 
The Tritons shot 36.1 percent from the field, while Minnesota State shot 32.7 percent, but was 40 percent (6-oof-15) from three-point range, while UMSL was 27.8 percent (5-of-18). Both teams pulled down 38 rebounds. Lee pulled down seven for the Tritons, while Skaggs and junior Sydney Bloch each grabbed five boards.
 
UMSL also took advantage of 20 Maverick turnovers, outscoring its hosts, 21-6, in points off turnovers.
 
The Tritons owned a pair of five-point leads in the first quarter, including 16-11 on an O'Brien three-pointer with 3:39 to play. The Tritons clung to a 19-18 advantage at the end of the opening quarter.
 
An 8-0 run by the Mavericks late in the second quarter helped the home team to a 28-23 lead before junior Jordan Boyce ended the spurt with a three-pointer to make it 28-26 for the halftime score.
 
UMSL will wrap up its current three-game roadtrip Wednesday, traveling to Kentucky Wesleyan.