ST. LOUIS, MO. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team limited visiting McKendree to just three fourth quarter points and held the visiting Bearcats to just one field goal in the final 18 minutes en route to a 56-40 Great Lakes Valley Conference victory on Thursday night.
 
The win snapped a five-game losing streak and moved UMSL to 8-12 overall, including 3-9 in the GLVC. McKendree slips to 10-12 and 5-7 in the league.
 
Junior Sydney Bloch came off the bench to score 11 points, recording double figures for the first time since December 12, and added seven rebounds and three assists, while senior Kelly Kunkel and redshirt sophomore Jordan Fletcher each added 10 points. Kunkel pulled in five rebounds and added two assists and two steals, while Fletcher grabbed six rebounds and blocked three shots.
 
UMSL shot 40.4 percent and owned a 37-26 rebounding advantage, including a 12-7 edge on the offensive end, while McKendree shot 33.3 percent, despite netting just four field goals in the second half.
 
The Tritons went 8-of-10 from the field in the first quarter, including 5-of-6 from three-point range, to own a 21-19 lead after 10 minutes played. UMSL scored the final five points of the opening frame and opened the second quarter with another five straight to take a 26-19 lead at the 7:42 mark. UMSL went into halftime with a 31-25 advantage.
 
The Bearcats outscored the Tritons, 12-8, in the third quarter to pull within 39-37, scoring their final five points of the quarter at the free throw line. McKendree knocked down a three-pointer at the 8:01 mark to make it 33-32, but didn't net another field goal until 10 seconds remaining in the game.
 
UMSL will close out the home portion of its schedule on Saturday, hosting Illinois Springfield at 1 p.m. on Senior Day. Kunkel and Amber Daly will both be recognized at the conclusion of the game.