ST. CHARLES, MO. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team overcame a slow start and erased a 16-point deficit en route to a 61-54 win at Lindenwood on Saturday afternoon to close out 2016 with its final nonconference game of the season.
 
After shooting just 23.1 percent in the opening half, the Tritons connected at a 65.2 percent clip in the second half and held the Lions scoreless in the final 4:36. UMSL outscored Lindenwood, 43-24, in the final 20 minutes. 
 
The Tritons improve to 6-4 overall, while Lindenwood falls to 5-5.
 
The host Lions opened with an 18-2 advantage and owned an 18-6 lead after one quarter as UMSL was just 2-of-12 from the field with eight turnovers in the opening 10 minutes.
 
The Tritons outscored the Lions, 8-2, to open the second quarter with junior Sammie Sproul netting the first five points before a steal and a three-point play by junior Shawnta Johnson pulled UMSL within 20-14 at the 6:26 mark. Lindenwood took a 30-18 lead into halftime.
 
An 11-2 start to the third quarter helped UMSL back in to the game as the Tritons knocked down five of their first seven field goal attempts to pull within 32-29 midway through. A three-pointer from senior Robneisha Lee with 19 seconds to play in the frame knotted the score at 43-43.
 
Junior Jordan Fletcher gave UMSL its first lead of the contest at 47-45 early in the fourth quarter and after six more lead changes and a pair of ties, took 55-54 lead it would not relinquish on a Lee lay in with 2:18 to play. UMSL closed the game with the final eight points as the Lions went 0-of-5 from the field with three turnovers after taking a 54-53 lead with 4:37 to play.
 
Fletcher scored a game-high 13 points and added four rebounds, three assists and two blocks, while Johnson followed with 12 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Sophomore Laura Szorenyi also scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds.
 
UMSL, which has limited four opponents to fewer than 55 points this season, limited Lindenwood to 35.2 percent shooting. The Lions held a 37-32 rebounding advantage.
 
UMSL returns to the court Thursday, hosting Indianapolis in GLVC play at 5:30 p.m.