ST. LOUIS, MO. – Seniors Kelly Kunkel and Amber Daly each scored 13 points on Senior Day to lead the University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team to a 61-53 Great Lakes Valley Conference victory over Illinois Springfield on Saturday afternoon in the home finale.
 
Kunkel added eight rebounds, while Daly dished out four assists. UMSL improves to 9-12 overall, including 4-9 in the GLVC, while Illinois Springfield slips to 8-13 and 2-11 in the league.
 
The Tritons sealed the victory at the free throw line in the final 37 seconds by netting 5-of-6 attempts to fend off the Prairie Stars, which battled back from a pair of nine-point fourth quarter deficits. UMSL held a 43-40 lead after three quarters played and scored six straight to begin the fourth quarter, taking a 49-40 lead on junior Shea O'Brien's layup. UIS later scored six unanswered and pulled within 56-53 on a traditional three-point play with 37 seconds, but the visitors would get no closer.
 
Junior Sydney Bloch also reached double figures with 10 points for the Tritons, which shot 36.1 percent. UIS shot 31.7 percent and owned a 48-41 rebounding advantage, including a 21-15 edge on the offensive end.
 
UMSL blocked a season-best eight shots, including three from freshman Sydney Skaggs, who also added six points and seven rebounds.
 
The Tritons clung to a 33-31 halftime lead after a 17-15 advantage at the end of the first quarter.
 
UMSL will begin a five-game roadswing to end the regular season on Thursday, traveling to Louisville, Ky., to face No. 25 ranked Bellarmine.