ST. LOUIS – Senior Alex LaPorta made two free throws with 4.5 seconds to play to help the University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team to a 53-51 win over visiting William Jewell on Thursday night in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.
 
The Tritons rallied from a 12-point first half deficit to garner the win.
 
RECORDS
UMSL (9-5, 9-5 GLVC), William Jewell (5-8, 5-8 GLVC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
William Jewell held a 14-10 lead after the first quarter and then scored the first eight points of the second quarter for a 22-10 advantage, while UMSL netted the final seven points of the half to pull within 22-17 at the break.
 
The Tritons then opened the second half with a 13-3 run and outscored William Jewell 19-7 in the third quarter for a 36-29 lead going into the final 10 minutes.
 
The Cardinals scored seven straight to open the fourth quarter, knotting the score at 36-36 and later took a 45-44 lead. UMSL answered with the next seven, while William Jewell followed suit and tied it at 51-51 before LaPorta drove the lane and was fouled to head to the free-throw line where she made both.
 
I NSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Junior Kiara Stewart scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
• Junior McKenzie Lathrom added 11 points, netting three three-pointers.
• Senior Danielle Berry finished with 10 points, seven rebounds and four steals.
• LaPorta chipped in nine points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
• UMSL shot 39.6 percent and held a 30-29 rebounding advantage, while William Jewell shot 42.9 percent.
• The Tritons took advantage of 17 Cardinal turnovers, outscoring their guests, 21-12, in points off turnovers.

 
UP NEXT
UMSL plays its third and final game of the week on Saturday, hosting Rockhurst.