SETTING THE SCENE
With the non-conference schedule wrapped up, UMSL returns its attention to the remainder of the GLVC slate, beginning Thursday when they host Bellarmine. The Tritons then round out the weekend by entertaining Southern Indiana on Saturday. UMSL got an early league sneak peek in December, falling to McKendree before defeating Illinois Springfield, with both of those contests also at home.
 
SIZING UP THE TRITONS

• UMSL is 7-4 overall, having won four straight, including their last three at home. Since opening the season with three straight losses, the Tritons have gone 7-1. 
• The Tritons wrapped up non-conference play with a 64-55 road win – their first of the season – last Sunday at Arkansas Tech. UMSL was 6-3 in non-conference games, all of which were against NCAA DII opponents.
• Senior Arielle Jackson ranks sixth in the GLVC with 15.7 points per game and has four outings of 20-plus points. She owns team highs of 25 three-pointers and 37 assists, an average of 3.36 per game.
• Sophomore Alex LaPorta leads the league in rebounding (10.5 rpg) and is the only player to average a double-double, adding 12.0 points per game to go with a team-best 27 steals (2.45 spg).
• UMSL is shooting 42.5 percent from the field, but allows a league-last .445 percent shooting by its opponents.

 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Bellarmine is 6-3 overall and lost its GLVC opener to Southern Indiana, 77-70. The Knights have three players averaging double figures and average a league second-best 78.2 points per game. However, Bellarmine ranks last in the league in scoring defense (71.3 ppg).
 
Bellarmine and UMSL have played two common opponents, both losing to Grand Valley State, while UMSL defeated Kentucky State and the Knights were defeated by the Thorobreds.
 
Southern Indiana enters a Thursday game at Maryville with an 8-3 overall record, including a 1-0 mark in the GLVC. The Screaming Eagles have lost two straight and are 1-2 on the road. Three players average double figures, while another two average more than nine points a game. USI is fourth in the league in field goal shooting (43.8 percent), but are last at the free throw line (64.0 percent).
 
SERIES HISTORIES
UMSL is 13-21 against Bellarmine and has won three straight, including a 72-61 decision during the regular season last year and a 77-74 verdict in the GLVC Tournament quarterfinals a year ago.
 
UMSL is 9-33 against Southern Indiana and has lost 12 of the last 13 meetings.
 
UP NEXT
UMSL will play on the road in the GLVC for the first time next weekend, traveling to Illinois Springfield and McKendree on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.