KIRKSVILLE, MO. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team rallied back from a 13-point deficit with four minutes to play, but couldn't complete the comeback in a 71-66 Great Lakes Valley Conference loss at Truman State Saturday afternoon.
 
Records: UMSL (3-3, 0-2 GLVC), Truman State (3-2, 1-0 GLVC)
 
How it Happened
Truman State used 12 unanswered points midway through the fourth quarter to pull away from a one-point lead and take its largest lead of the game at 65-52 with 4:02 to play. UMSL then reeled off eight straight of its owns, including back-to-back three-point plays from seniors Shawnta Johnson and Jordan Fletcher, to get within 65-60 at the 1:39 mark. Junior Arielle Jackson knocked in a three-pointer with 37 seconds to go to pull her team within 67-63, but Truman State sank two free throws and scored on a layup with eight seconds remaining to help seal the game.
 
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 12-2 lead in the game with their first four field goals coming from three-point range. UMSL ended the first quarter on a 9-2 run to pull within 14-11 after the opening frame.
 
Back-to-back buckets by freshman Alex LaPorta tied the game at 22-22 midway through the second quarter before a three-pointer from senior Sammie Sproul, followed by a lay-in from Johnson gave UMSL a 27-24 lead at the 4:01 mark.  Fletcher later scored on a layup with 1:17 to go in the first half, helping UMSL to its largest lead of the game at 34-29, which they held though halftime.
 
Truman State opened the second half with seven straight to ignite a 10-3 run for a 39-37 lead they would not relinquish. The Bulldogs held a 49-44 lead after three quarters.
 
Numbers of Note
- Jackson led the Tritons with 15 points and was one of five players in double figures with Johnson, Fletcher and LaPorta all following with 12 points. Sproul added 11 points.
- LaPorta recorded her fifth double-double in six games this season by adding 12 rebounds.
- Johnson picked up three steals and had five assists.
- UMSL shot 39.4 percent and held a 41-29 rebounding advantage, including a 16-4 edge on the offensive end, while Truman State shot an even 50 percent.
 
Up Next
UMSL returns home on Thursday to host William Jewell at 5:30 p.m.