SPRINGFIELD, MO. – Sophomore Laura Szorenyi scored a season-best and game-high 23 points, but it wasn't enough for the University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team as the Tritons lost their GLVC opener, 72-58, at No. 14 ranked Drury Thursday night.
 
The Tritons fall to 3-3 overall, including 0-1 in the GLVC, while Drury is now 7-1 and 1-0 in the league.  
 
The Panthers used an 8-0 run to open the second quarter en route to outscoring UMSL, 21-9, in the second frame, pulling away from a 21-21 tie at the end of the first quarter. Drury held a 42-30 lead at halftime.
 
Szorenyi scored 10 of her points in the third quarter, in which UMSL outscored the Panthers, 18-17.
 
A bucket from junior Sammie Sproul and a pair of free throws from senior Robneisha Lee to open the fourth quarter allowed UMSL to pull within 59-51 93 seconds in, but the Tritons missed their next four shots, while Drury scored five straight to push the lead back into double figures.
 
Lee added nine points, four rebounds and five steals for UMSL, which shot an even 40 percent from the field, while Drury connected at a 51 percent clip and held a 38-21 rebounding edge.
 
The Tritons collected a season-high 13 steals, forcing the Panthers into a season-high 23 turnovers, but committed 22 of their own miscues.
 
UMSL returns to the court Saturday at Missouri S&T.