ST. LOUIS – The University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team used a fourth quarter rally to defeat Truman State 61-60 and snap a four-game losing streak in the process on Saturday afternoon at the Mark Twain Building. The Tritons improve to 7-7, 5-3 GLVC while the Bulldogs fall to 3-9, 0-6 GLVC.

Truman hit two of its first three shots to jump out to an early five-point lead but UMSL's defense tightened holding the Bulldogs to just one field goal over the remainder of the frame. The Tritons outscored Truman 17-7 over the final eight minutes of the quarter to take a five-point lead into the second quarter.

UMSL got a basket from Jalysa Stokes on its first possession of the second frame to take its largest lead of the game at 19-12. The Bulldogs ran off six straight points to pull within 19-18 on a layup from Ellie Weltha with less than seven minutes to play before the half. The Tritons stretched their lead back to four on a jumper by Morgan Ramthun but Truman countered with another six in a row to regain the lead at 27-25 on a jumper from Madison Niemeier.

UMSL got back-to-back baskets from Stokes and Ramthun to retake the lead at 29-27 with 0:53 seconds left in the half but Niemeier hit another jumper to even the score at 29. The Tritons got 1-of-2 free throws from Tori Standefer shortly before the end of the quarter to regain the lead but Claire Rake hit a three from the top of the key in the closing seconds to give the Bulldogs a 32-30 lead at the intermission.

Truman opened the third quarter on a 10-3 run to build its largest lead of the game at 42-33 on a free throw from Gracie Neff with 3:18 left in the quarter. UMSL finished the quarter scoring eight of the final 10 points to pull within three heading into the final quarter. Stokes had five of those points while Audrey Martinez-Stewart added three.

The Bulldogs led by four early in the final stanza but a 6-0 run by the Tritons allowed them to retake the lead at 50-48 on a jumper from Stokes. Truman answered on the other end as Weltha tied the game with a layup and then after a stop on the defensive end Neff gave it back the lead hitting 1-of-2 at the charity stripe.

UMSL scored the next five points to regain the lead as Brooke Woodyard hit two free throws and Stokes added a jumper and a free throw to make it a four-point game.

The Bulldogs wouldn't go without a fight going on a 6-2 run over a span of 95 seconds to tie the game at 57 in the final minute. Ainsley Tolson hit four free throws in that run.

The Tritons retook the lead on two free throws from Stokes with 0:38 to play. After a stop, Stokes was fouled again but only made 1-of-2 to extend the lead to three.

Truman had a chance to tie the game in the closing seconds as Rake was fouled by Stokes with 1.2 seconds left on a three-point attempt but she made only one of the three free throws. UMSL had a chance to seal the game in the final second but Ramthun only hit 1-of-2 at the line to make it a three-point contest.

Weltha scored on a layup at the buzzer for the final margin.

The Tritons shot 42.3 percent (22-for-52) from the field including 5-of-14 from three but shot only 63 percent at the foul line. Stokes finished with a game-high 27 points. She was joined in double figures by Ramthun with 10 points and seven rebounds.

The Bulldogs were held to 41 percent (18-for-44) shooting in the contest, including 4-of-20 from three and shot 77 percent at the foul line. They outrebounded UMSL 33-to-27 in the contest. Toslon led four Truman players in double figures with 13 points. Rake added 12 points, Weltha finished with a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds and Niemeier had 10 points.

The Tritons are back at home next Saturday (Jan. 13) hosting McKendree at 1 p.m. at the Mark Twain Building.