ST. LOUIS, MO. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team rallied back from a 15-point fourth quarter deficit, but came up short in a 63-54 loss to Arkansas Tech on Saturday afternoon.
 
The visiting Golden Suns took their largest lead of the game 11 seconds into the final frame, but UMSL followed with a 15-4 run, trimming the deficit to 53-49 on senior Robneisha Lee's steal and layup with 5:38 to play. However, back-to-back scores by Arkansas Tech put the lead back into double figures.
 
Lee was one of four players to score in double figures, finishing with 11 to go with three assists and three steals. Junior Jordan Fletcher led the Tritons with 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting, while junior Shelby Dahl finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Sophomore Laura Szorenyi chipped in 10 points.
 
UMSL shot 37.5 percent in the contest, while Arkansas Tech shot 46.3 percent and owned a 36-30 rebounding advantage.
 
Arkansas Tech took a 32-27 lead into halftime, closing the opening half with a 10-4 run. The Golden Suns held a 16-15 advantage after one quarter. The guests took an 11-6 lead at the 2:54 mark, but Szorenyi and Fletcher combined for UMSL's next nine points to erase the deficit.
 
An 8-0 run over the final 4:50 of the third quarter helped the Golden Suns pull away for a 47-34 lead. Dahl laid in the shot at the 5:03 mark to pull UMSL within 39-34, but the Tritons would miss seven straight to end the stanza.
 
After being outscored 15-7 in the third quarter and shooting 23.1 percent, the Tritons outscored Arkansas Tech, 20-16, in the final 10 minutes, shooting 53.3 percent.
 
UMSL begins GLVC play Thursday with a road contest at Drury.