ASHLAND, OHIO – The 6-seed University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team fell to 3-seed Drury University in the first round of the NCAA Division II National Tournament Midwest Region on Friday, Mar. 11. Drury won 65-49. The Panthers outshot UMSL 48% to 39% from the field. The Tritons grabbed 37 rebounds in the game with 15 coming off the offensive glass.
 
The Tritons (23-6) scored on two layups by Kiara Stewart and Faye Meissner in their first three possessions to take a 4-0 lead early in the first quarter. Drury (32-4) scored on their next two possessions to tie the game. The teams traded the lead three times in the first quarter. The Panthers scored the on their final two possessions of the first quarter to take a 14-13 lead into the break.
 
UMSL shot 50% in the first quarter. In the next two quarters, the Triton offense cooled off to shoot 28% from the field. Drury took a 50-31 lead into the fourth quarter. During that time, the Panthers scored 12 points off turnovers.
 
UMSL found their groove offensively in the fourth quarter. The Tritons went on an 11-2 run to start the fourth quarter in which Alex LaPorta scored six points. LaPorta scored 10 of her 13 points in the final period.
 
The Tritons locked back in to shoot 50% in the fourth, but Drury elevated their offense in the final quarter as well shooting 64%.
 
The Panthers held off the UMSL comeback to win 65-49.
 
LaPorta scored 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Kiara Stewart also scored 13 points and secured 12 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season. Jalysa Stokes scored nine points off the bench. Mallory Ronshausen finished with eight points.
 
The 2021-22 UMSL women's basketball team finished with the best record in program history (23-6). Head Coach Katie Vaughn eclipsed 150 career wins this season. The total is now 161 wins.
 
"This season has been truly memorable!" Coach Vaughn said. "The winning has been great, but getting to come to work every day and be surrounded by this great group of young ladies is what has been so meaningful!"
 
The accomplishments the Tritons achieved this season came as the world was still navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
"Having games canceled and things shut down hit our upperclassmen hard," Vaughn explained. "They decided they were going to use every opportunity they were given as if it was the last. If the gym was available, they were there. If the weight room was open, they were there. When games started, they played every game like it could be their last. This set the tone to how we were going to approach the season and not take anything for granted."
 
The senior class of Danielle Berry, Alex LaPorta, McKenzie Lathrom, Faye Meissner, and Adriana Plavsic were essential to the success of UMSL this season.

Coach Vaughn exclaimed, "Wow! The seniors have made a lasting impression on me, the program, and the university. They are driven, high-character women that do things the right way and are proven winners on and off the court. We thank them for all of the hours they have put into building this program and setting high standards for what is acceptable in the classroom, around the community, and on the floor." Vaughn continued, "Their shoes will be hard to fill!"