ST. LOUIS, MO. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team rallied back from a 10-point deficit, but came up short in a 62-58 loss to visiting Kentucky Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Tritons made 7-of-10 field goals in the third quarter to outscore the Panthers, 20-13, and erase a 33-23 halftime deficit, pulling within 46-43 with the final 10 minutes to play.
 
UMSL got within two points three times early in the fourth quarter, including 50-48 with 5:28 to play on a lay in by junior Jordan Fletcher before Kentucky Wesleyan followed with a 7-2 run. Another Fletcher lay in and a pair of free throws by senior Robneisha Lee again made it a two-point deficit at 58-56 with 22 seconds to go, but the Panthers went 4-of-4 from the free throw line to secure the win.
 
UMSL falls to 4-4, while Kentucky Wesleyan improves to 6-1, defeating the Tritons for the second time this season (72-66 on November 12).
 
Fletcher scored a game-high 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field and added six rebounds and a career-high four blocks, while sophomore Laura Szorenyi followed with 16 points.
 
Kentucky Wesleyan, which led 17-14 after one quarter, outscored the Tritons, 16-9, in the second frame to take a 33-23 lead into halftime. UMSL turned the ball over 10 times in that period and was flagged for 10 fouls to the Panthers' two as Kentucky Wesleyan went 5-for-8 at the free throw line.
 
UMSL committed 23 turnovers, shot 46.8 percent and owned a 36-24 rebounding advantage, including an 11-7 edge on the offensive end, while Kentucky Wesleyan shot 40.4 percent and finished 21-of-29 at the free throw line. The Tritons were 12-of-19 at the charity stripe.
 
Lee grabbed nine rebounds, while junior Shawnta Johnson added six boards to go with four assists, four steals and two blocks.
 
The Tritons will play their third game in five days tomorrow when they travel across the river to NCAA Division I SIUE. While the game will count in the standings for the host Cougars, UMSL will play it as an exhibition.