ST. LOUIS, MO. – It took overtime, but the University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team earned a 75-67 win over Davenport in its season opener on Friday night.
Freshman
Alex LaPorta recorded 17 points and 13 rebounds in her debut to lead five Tritons in double figures.
How it Happened
- The Tritons led by 19 points with 8:38 to play in regulation before the Panthers clawed back, tying the game at 59-59 with 23 seconds to play.
- Davenport had a chance at the winning bucket, but junior
Arielle Jackson blocked the shot from behind.
- A three-point play by LaPorta early in the overtime gave UMSL a 64-61 lead it would not relinquish.
- Jackson netted a three-pointer with 52 seconds remaining before knocking in two free throws with 18 seconds on the clock to help seal the game.
- UMSL led 17-13 at the end of the first quarter and used an 8-0 run early in the second quarter to pull ahead 25-16 on a three-pointer from LaPorta, who finished with five points during that run.
- The Tritons held a 35-23 lead at halftime and 46-31 at the end of the third quarter.
Numbers of Note
- Jackson recorded 15 points, four assists and three steals, while senior
Shawnta Johnson finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
- Senior
Jordan Fletcher tallied 11 points and nine rebounds, while senior
Sammie Sproul followed with 10 points, four assists and three steals.
- UMSL shot 34.7 percent from the field and held a 54-37 rebounding advantage, including a 25-8 edge on the offensive end. The Tritons outscored Davenport, 14-3, in second chance points.
- Davenport shot 41.7 percent, including 66.7 percent in the fourth quarter.
- UMSL finished with 16 turnovers, seven of which came in the fourth quarter.
- Junior
Kaitlynn Henning played just 10 minutes, but in the overtime, had a layup that gave UMSL a 66-63 lead before securing an offensive rebound following a missed free throw and assisted on Jackson's late three-pointer that made it 71-65.
Triton Tidbits
- UMSL improves to 30-14 all-time in season openers… the Tritons are 5-1 in season openers under sixth-year head coach
Katie Vaughn… UMSL has won seven straight home openers, including all six under Vaughn… this was the first meeting between UMSL and Davenport.
Up Next
UMSL hosts Grand Valley State tomorrow at 4 p.m.
