ROMOEVILLE, ILL. – Junior Alex LaPorta scored a career-high 23 points to help lead the University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team to a 70-61 victory at Lewis on Saturday, handing the Flyers their first Great Lakes Valley Conference loss.
 
The Tritons, who entered the day tied for last place in the league standings, never trailed in the game, and shot 43.9 percent from the field en route to knocking off the co-league leaders. Lewis, which was shooting a league-best 50.5 percent from the field in GLVC-only games, was limited to 39.3 shooting.
 
RECORDS
UMSL (8-11, 3-7 GLVC), Lewis (12-6, 9-1 GLVC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
UMSL jumped out to a quick 9-0 lead to open the game and held a 22-13 advantage after the first quarter.
 
The Flyers got within three twice in the second quarter before UMSL clung to a 38-33 halftime lead.
 
The Tritons reeled off another nine straight to open the second half and took their largest lead of the game at 47-33 on a three-pointer from redshirt senior Laura Szorenyi with 6:27 on the clock. They Flyers were held scoreless in the half until converting a three-point play three minutes later. UMSL took a 54-42 lead into the final 10 minutes.
 
Lewis knocked down three three-pointers in a span of a minute late in the game and got within 67-60 with 29 seconds to play, but the Tritons went 4-of-4 at the free-throw line to help seal the victory.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Szorenyi finished with 18 points and three steals.
• LaPorta, who was 9-of-13 from the field, also recorded nine rebounds and three steals.
• UMSL was slightly outrebouned, 36-34.
• The Tritons picked up 11 steals on 17 Lewis turnovers and outscored their hosts, 18-7, in points off turnovers.
• Sophomore Kiara Stewart tallied eight boards, while junior Danielle Berry dished out five assists.

 
UP NEXT
UMSL returns home next weekend, hosting Southern Indiana and McKendree on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.