ST. LOUIS, MO. - The No. 25 University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team lost on their home court for just the second time this season when the University of Southern Indiana defeated UMSL 68-58 in a battle between the two top teams in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Tritons led by as many as nine points in the first half before USI found their offensive stride. The lead changed 13 times in the game with the Tritons leading for more than 31 minutes.

The first quarter was all UMSL (20-4, 16-3 GLVC). The Tritons shot 55% from the field while holding the Screaming Eagles (21-4, 15-2 GLVC) to 36%. The Triton lead expanded to eight points when Alex LaPorta hit a triple and Kiara Stewart followed up with a layup off a defensive rebound on the other end with under three minutes to play in the quarter. UMSL took a 17-13 lead into the second quarter.

The Tritons went on a seven-point run in the second quarter started by a Jalysa Stokes jumper. Mallory Ronshausen converted an offensive rebound into a layup and later drilled a three-pointer to give UMSL a 24-15 lead with 6:23 to play in the first half.

Southern Indiana whittled away at the UMSL lead and entered halftime trailing by four points with a score of 31-27.

Ashlynn Brown started the second half with a three for USI to cut the lead to one point. Emma DeHart came away with a steal and a fastbreak layup to give the Screaming Eagles the lead just 30 seconds into the third quarter. 

The tide turned when Kiara Stewart picked up her fifth foul with 5:49 to play in the fourth quarter. USI gained the lead with 4:44 to play and would not relinquish it again. It remained no more than a two possession game until Addy Blackwell hit a three with 2:05 to play in the fourth quarter to give USI a 59-52 lead. The Screaming Eagles would hit seven-of-eight free throws down the stretch to secure the 68-58 win. 

Faye Meissner led the way for the Tritons with 14 points. Meissner also had five steals. Jalysa Stokes finished with 10 points. Alex LaPorta, Kiara Stewart, and Mallory Ronshausen each scored nine points. Stewart added eight rebounds while LaPorta secured six boards. Danielle Berry led the team with nine rebounds. 

The Tritons will play McKendree University at home on Saturday at 1 p.m. with Senior Day immediately following the game.