ST. LOUIS – The University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team dropped a 74-67 contest to McKendree on Saturday afternoon at the Melvin Price Convocation Center in Lebanon, Ill.

The Tritons drop to 12-14 including 10-10 in the GLVC while the Bearcats improve to 19-7, 15-5 GLVC.

McKendree scored the first four points of the contest and never trailed in the contest as it led by as many as seven in the first quarter. UMSL got to within 13-12 after a layup from Emerson Weller with 1:55 left in the quarter but a layup by Kristyn Mitchell gave the Bearcats a 15-12 lead heading into the second frame.

UMSL scored five of the first seven points of the second stanza to tie the game at 17 after a jumper from Brooke Woodyard 67 seconds into the frame but was unable to take the lead as McKendree scored six of the next eight points to build a four-point lead. Jalysa Stokes brought the Tritons back within one at 23-22 with a three with less than six minutes to play in the half. The Bearcats closed the half strong scoring seven straight and 13 of the final 19 points to take a 36-29 lead into the locker room at the break.

McKendree started the third quarter with a three from Clare Braden to extend its lead to double digits but Stokes scored five straight points to pull the Tritons within 39-34. UMSL was unable to get any closer as the Bearcats countered with a 17-9 run over the next 6:30 to take its largest lead of the quarter at 56-43 after a layup from Braden.

The Tritons scored six of the final 10 points of the quarter to cut the deficit to 11 heading into the final 10 minutes of play.

Both teams shot the ball well in the third quarter as McKendree shot 66.7 percent from the floor including 4-of-5 from three while UMSL shot 50 percent and hit their only three of the frame.

The Bearcats doubled up the Tritons over the first three-plus minutes of the final stanza to take its largest lead of the game at 66-51 on a layup from Christy Fortune with 6:46 to play. UMSL wouldn't go quietly pulling to within five with 0:42 left on a jumper from Stokes but a Fortune three on the next possession sealed the victory for the Bearcats.

The Tritons ended the game shooting 45.9 percent (28-for-61) from the field including 3-of-5 from three and 67 percent at the foul line. Stokes led UMSL with 24 points while Mara Rieder added 12 points.

McKendree connected on 54 percent of its attempts from the floor, including 8-of-12 from three and shot 80 percent at the foul line. Breden led all scorers with 26 points and was joined in double figures by Madyson Harper with 14 points while McDaniel finished with 12 points and blocked seven shots.

The Tritons begin their final homestand of the season next Thursday (Feb. 29) hosting Indianapolis at 5:30 p.m. at the Mark Twain Building.