KIRKSVILLE, MO. – Sophomore Laura Szorenyi scored 10 of her game and career-high 24 points in the fourth quarter to help lead the University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team to an 80-70 non-conference road victory at fellow GLVC member Truman State Monday night.
 
The Tritons outscored the Bulldogs, 26-15, in the final quarter, knocking down four three-pointers, including one from Szorenyi with 25 seconds to play as the shot clock was expiring to put the Tritons on top 75-70. UMSL then sealed the game by making 5-of-6 free throws, including all four from junior Shelby Dahl.  
 
The Tritons, which rallied from a 10-point first half deficit, improves to 5-4 with the win, including 4-1 on the road, while Truman slips to 5-6. The win was UMSL's first in Kirksville since a 72-60 win on January 5, 1994, when the two programs were members of the MIAA.
 
Szorenyi was one of five players in double figures and added four assists, while junior Shawnta Johnson registered her first double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Graduate student Chelsey Jacox added a career-best 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting, while senior Robneisha Lee recorded 12 points, six assists and five rebounds. Dahl also scored 12 points, netting all eight free throw attempts.
 
Szorenyi scored six straight points to help UMSL to an early 10-4 lead as the Tritons made five of their first six field goals before missing their next seven. The drought helped the Bulldogs end the quarter on a 12-2 run, which included nine straight to end the frame for a 16-12 lead.
 
Truman State took its largest lead of the game at 26-16 at the 6:47 mark in the second quarter behind an 11-4 start, before a three-pointer from Jacox ignited an 18-9 run by the Tritons to end the half. Jacox also ended the run with a lay in to knot the score at 34-34 at the break.
 
Truman clung to a 55-54 lead after three quarters before junior Jordan Fletcher scored UMSL's first two buckets of the fourth quarter, including one with 8:32 to play to give the Tritons a 58-56 lead they would not relinquish.
 
UMSL shot 52.6 percent, including 60 percent in the second half, and held a 35-30 rebounding advantage. Truman shot 43.3 percent.
 
The Tritons are idle for the holiday break until Saturday, Dec. 31 when they travel down I-70 to Lindenwood for their final non-conference game of the season at 2 p.m.