EDWARDSVILLE, ILL. - No. 3 University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team lost to No. 2 Drury University 64-54 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship Tournament Semifinal on Saturday. UMSL turned the ball over an uncharacteristic 24 times in the game. DU turned those turnovers into 24 points.

Similar to their game in early February, the first quarter was a defensive battle. The Tritons (23-5) took the lead early as Kiara Stewart accounted for all six points for UMSL in the first five minutes of play.

With the Tritons up 12-7 with two minutes to play in the first, Paige Robinson sparked a nine-point run for the Panthers (30-4). Robinson scored the next six points and picked up an assist on a Payton Richards three to end the first quarter.

The Tritons were down 16-12 entering the second quarter. A jumper by Alex LaPorta and a three by Jalysa Stokes helped the Tritons regain the lead. A back-and-forth battle ensued until late in the quarter when Alana Findlay finished a layup off a steal by Robinson to put Drury on top entering halftime 30-26.

Paige Robinson scored the first points of the second half on a pair of free throws and then stole the ball and took it down for a layup for a quick four points to put the Panthers up 34-26.

Entering the fourth quarter, Drury led 47-40. Kiara Stewart opened the final period with a good jumper in the paint. After a two-pointer from Drury, Alex LaPorta quickly responded with a two-point bucket. Danielle Berry came down with a defensive rebound and Jalysa Stokes hit a three on the next UMSL possession to cut the deficit to two points.

Drury responded with a five-point run to expand the lead back to multiple possessions. The Panthers would keep their lead down the stretch to win 64-54.

Kiara Stewart was perfect from the field, going 4-for-4 and scoring 11 points with seven rebounds. Jalysa Stokes led UMSL scorers with 18 points off the bench including four three-point field goals. Alex LaPorta scored 16 points and tied for the team lead with eight rebounds. Danielle Berry also grabbed eight boards.

Paige Robinson led all scorers with 26 points and added seven rebounds for Drury.

The Tritons await Selection Sunday when the NCAA Division II Tournament field will be chosen. The selection show will begin at 9 p.m. CT on Sunday, Mar. 6 and will be live streamed on NCAA.com. UMSL was sixth in the Midwest Region in last week's rankings.