LEBANON, ILL. – Senior Alex LaPorta scored a game-high 21 points to go with 13 rebounds and seven assists, while junior Kiara Stewart recorded 16 points and 10 rebounds to help the University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team to an 80-70 Great Lakes Valley Conference road win at McKendree on Sunday afternoon.
 
The duo helped the Tritons to a 43-24 rebounding advantage, including a 16-6 edge on the offensive end, outscoring the Bearcats, 20-4, in second chance points. UMSL was playing on the road for the first time after opening the season with four straight home games.
 
LaPorta moves her career points total to 990, needing just 10 more to become the 16^th member of the program's 1,000-point club.
 
RECORDS
UMSL (3-2, 3-2 GLVC), McKendree (3-4, 3-4 GLVC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
UMSL held a 23-22 lead after the first quarter, but fell behind at the half, 43-36, after shooting just 30 percent in the second quarter.
 
The Tritons ended the third frame with a 9-3 run, taking a 57-72 lead it would not relinquish into the final 10 minutes.
 
UMSL made 6-of-7 free throws in the final 1:22 to help seal the victory. Freshman Azaria Hulbert was 3-for-3 and scored five of her 11 points in the final 27 seconds.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• UMSL shot 48.4 percent from the field, while McKendree shot 45.5 percent.
• The Tritons, which entered the game second in the league at the free throw line (76.6 percent), made 16-of-19.
• Junior Faye Meissner added seven points and seven rebounds.

 
UP NEXT
UMSL returns to action on Jan. 3, traveling to William Jewell.