ST. LOUIS, MO. – Junior Jordan Fletcher's offensive put back in the closing seconds lifted the University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team to a 58-57 win over No. 17 ranked Bellarmine on Saturday afternoon in Great Lakes Valley Conference action.
 
It is the Tritons' fourth straight win and marks the second straight victory over a ranked opponent as UMSL also knocked off No. 20 Southern Indiana on Thursday night.
 
UMSL improves to 13-10 overall, including 8-7 in the GLVC, while Bellarmine falls to 19-5, 11-4 overall.
 
Numbers of Note
-The Tritons limited Bellarmine to 30.6 percent shooting - two days after the Knights shot a season-best 58.8 percent in a win at Maryville.
 
-Junior Shawnta Johnson scored a career-high 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while senior Chelsey Jacox added 10 points, all in the first half.
 
-Seven of eight players scored, including Fletcher, who finished with nine points and eight rebounds.
 
-Coming off a career-high 26 points Thursday night, senior Robneisha Lee was limited to eight points, but made up for it on the defensive end with five steals.
 
-UMSL shot 30.6 percent and overcame 20 turnovers and a 43-38 rebounding deficit. Bellarmine held a 15-9 edge in offensive rebounds, but only managed eight second chance points.
 
-The Tritons improved to 6-3 at home, including 5-1 in GLVC games, with five straight wins.
 
How it Happened
UMSL clung to 25-21 halftime lead after holding a 9-6 advantage following the first quarter. Both teams combined to go 6-of-28 from the field in the opening 10 minutes, while the Tritons limited Bellarmine to 23.3 percent shooting in the first half.
 
After owning a 45-39 lead after three quarters, UMSL opened the final frame with an 8-2 spurt and took its largest lead of the game at 53-41 on a layup by Fletcher with 5:37 to play. However, the Knights answered back with a 16-3 run to take a 57-56 lead with 15 seconds to play. The Tritons missed five straight field goals during that stretch and turned the ball over three times, while also missing three free throws.
 
After the Knights took the lead, which was only their second of the game, sophomore Laura Szorenyi missed a left handed layup on the other end, but Fletcher was there for the follow up.
 
Up Next
UMSL continues its home stand next Thursday, hosting Missouri S&T at 5:30 p.m.