BOLIVAR, Mo. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team withstood a fourth quarter rally to defeat Southwest Baptist 51-46 on Monday evening at the Meyer Sports Center in Bolivar, Mo. The Tritons improve to 2-3, 1-0 GLVC while the Bearcats drop to 3-4, 0-2 GLVC.

UMSL led by as many as 15 at 39-24 with 4:25 left in the third quarter but went cold over the final four minutes of the period as SBU scored the final seven points to cut the Triton lead to eight heading into the final 10 minutes.

The Bearcats scored the first bucket of the fourth quarter to close within six after a layup from Tori Hamilton 0:29 into the frame. UMSL snapped its nearly six-minute scoreless spell with a layup from Shae Dillavou but SBU answered a minute later after a layup from Claudia Vanzant to get back within six.

The Tritons got back-to-back baskets from Morgan Ramthun and Jalysa Stokes to extend its lead to 10 with 6:12 remaining.

Neither side scored for the next two minutes and UMSL appeared to be in control of the game until Kiara Stewart was called for a technical foul after drawing a foul against Vanzant. Kori Cromer hit both free throws and then knocked down a pull up jumper on the ensuing possession to cut the lead to 45-39 with less than four minutes to go.

After a stop on the defensive end, the Bearcats cut the deficit to four on a driving layup from Gabby Fuller.

Stokes gave UMSL a six-point lead back hitting two free throws after being fouled on a jumper with 1:40 left and then struck again with 1:04 to play hitting a floating jumper in the paint to push the lead to eight.

SBU answered with a three from Karlee Holland and then after a turnover, Kelsey Blakemore scored on the break to make it a one possession game with 0:45 to play.

After a miss by Stokes, Stewart secured the rebound but was called for a travel giving the ball back to SBU for a chance to tie the game. UMSL elected to foul with 0:09 left sending Vanzant, an 80 percent free throw shooter, to the line with a chance to get within one. She missed both shots and Ramthun came down with the rebound.

The Tritons took a timeout to advance the ball into the front court and the Bearcats were forced to foul to try and extend the game. Holland fouled Stokes with 0:06 remaining and Stokes buried both attempts to seal the victory.

UMSL was held to 35 percent (21-for-60) shooting in the contest including 2-of-12 from three but did hit all seven of its free throw attempts. The Tritons outrebounded SBU 39-to-22 with 14 of those on the offensive end and outscored them 16-2 in second chance points. Stokes led all scorers with a career-high 21 points while Ramthun added 10 points. Stewart had a game and season-high 16 rebounds.

SBU shot 34.7 percent (17-for-49) from the floor including 5-of-12 from three and shot 78 percent at the foul line. Cromer led the Bearcats with nine points off the bench while Blakemore added eight points and Vanzant finished with seven points.

UMSL is back at home this Thursday (Dec. 1) hosting No. 7 Drury at 5:30 p.m. at the Mark Twain Building. The Panthers defeated Missouri S&T 65-36 on Monday to improve to 5-1, 1-0 GLVC.