EVANSVILLE, IND. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team dropped a 76-69 Great Lakes Valley Conference road decision at Southern Indiana Saturday afternoon.
The Screaming Eagles used a 13-4 fourth quarter run to pull away from the Tritons. USI also took advantage of 21 UMSL turnovers, holding a 22-6 advantage in points off turnovers, and went to the free throw line 27 times compared to the Tritons' 15 trips.
UMSL falls to 9-14 overall, including 4-11 in the GLVC, while Southern Indiana improves to 12-11 and 5-10 in the league.
Redshirt sophomore
Jordan Fletcher recorded 16 points, seven rebounds and three blocks, while senior
Kelly Kunkel followed with 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals.
UMSL shot44.4 percent and owned a 33-26 rebounding advantage, including a 13-8 edge on the offensive end, while Southern Indiana shot 51 percent.
The Screaming Eagles held a 39-32 halftime lead after a 16-15 advantage at the end of the first quarter. USI jumped out to a quick 12-5 lead, but an 8-2 run capped by a steal and layup by junior
Robneisha Lee brought the Tritons back within 14-13.
A three-pointer by senior
Amber Daly to open the second quarter gave UMSL an 18-16 lead and then after a Fletcher bucket made it 22-20, USI scored eight unanswered.
The Screaming Eagles took their largest lead of the game at 47-36 with 6:59 to go in the third quarter. UMSL followed with a 9-2 run, ended by five straight Fletcher points as the Tritons pulled within 49-45 before trailing 53-50 at the end of the frame.
UMSL crept within 55-53 67 seconds into the fourth quarter on junior
Jordan Boyce's three-pointer, but Southern Indiana followed with a three-pointer to start a 13-4 run and push the lead back into double figures at 68-67 with 3:17 remaining. UMSL scored the final seven points in the last minute for the final score after the hosts had taken a 14-point lead.
The Tritons continue their season-ending five-game roadswing next week with games at Missouri S&T on Thursday and at No. 12 Drury on Saturday.
