LEBANON, ILL. – Junior Sammie Sproul scored a season-high 15 points to help the University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team fend off host McKendree on Saturday afternoon to pick up a 63-58 Great Lakes Valley Conference victory.
 
The Tritons owned a 14-point lead heading into the final quarter, but saw the Bearcats pull within two.  
 
UMSL improves to 11-10 overall, including 6-7 in the GLVC, while McKendree slips to 10-12, including 1-11 in the league.
 
Numbers of Note
-Sproul also dished out three assists and collected two steals, while knocking down three three-pointers and was one of three players in double figures.
 
-Sophomore Laura Szorenyi added 15 points, eight of which came in the fourth quarter, while junior Jordan Fletcher tossed in 14 points and pulled down eight rebounds.
 
-Both teams shot 45.3 percent from the field, while McKendree held a 31-29 rebounding advantage. Senior Robneisha Lee also had eight boards and dished out five assists.
 
-UMSL took advantage of 13 Bearcat turnovers, outscoring the home team, 16-9, in points off turnovers.
 
How it Happened
UMSL built a 36-28 halftime lead, outscoring the Bearcats, 22-14, in the second quarter behind 64.3 percent shooting after both teams put up 14 points in the opening 10 minutes. The Tritons used a 9-2 run early in the second quarter to pull in front, 25-18, on a Sproul three-pointer. Sproul also knocked in a three-pointer at the buzzer for the eight-point halftime advantage.
 
The Tritons missed their first six field goals of the second half, but missed shots and turnovers on the other end by McKendree kept UMSL on top. Szorenyi then ended the slump with a three-pointer at the 5:30 mark and junior Shawnta Johnson followed with a jumper to push the lead into double figures for the first time at 42-31. A steal and a layup by Sproul to end the third quarter made it a 49-35 advantage.
 
McKendree opened the final quarter with a 12-0 start to pull within 49-47, while UMSL got its first bucket of the frame with 5:34 to play on a lay in by Szorenyi. Szorenyi then followed with a three-pointer to make it a 54-47 advantage and knocked in another long ball with 1:25 remaining for the 59-53 lead.
 
Up Next
UMSL opens a five-game homestand to close out the regular season on Thursday, hosting Southern Indiana.