JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team extended its winning streak to three as it defeated Lincoln 78-53 at Jason Gymnasium in Jefferson City, Mo., on Thursday evening. The Tritons improve to 12-3, 6-2 in the GLVC while the Blue Tigers drop to 1-13, 0-8 GLVC.
 
Kate Rolfes got UMSL going in the first quarter, making two three-point attempts in the first three minutes of the game. Alex Wolff got to work next, making two free-throws and then hitting a hook shot to extend the Tritons lead to ten early in the first.
 
UMSL outscored Lincoln 16-8 in the first quarter. The Tritons doubled up Lincoln on the boards 14-7, denying second chance opportunities to the Blue Tigers. Of their 14 rebounds, 11 came on the defensive end.
 
Despite an early basket by Wolff, Lincoln pulled the lead to just four points to start the second quarter, aided by UMSL turnovers.
 
Morgan Ramthun stopped the Blue Tigers run with a two-point effort just before the midway point in the second quarter. Ramthun started the play with a defensive rebound before a pass from Mara Rieder found her in the open shooting lane.
 
The Ramthun basket kicked off a five-point run, with Rolfes making another three-pointer and Rieder adding a layup. 
 
The Tritons went into the half with an eight-point lead thanks to a Blue Tigers layup that went in as the buzzer sounded.
 
Katie Hamill scored six quick points to start the third quarter, giving the Tritons a 14-point lead. Ramthun added a three-point effort before the timeout.
 
The Blue Tigers scored their first basket of the half with just under four minutes to go-a three-point effort to cut the Triton lead to 21 points. Abby Peterson immediately answered with a layup.
 
Three minutes into the final quarter, Wolff hit two layups to bring her total to 18 points. Throughout the night she found plenty of space for her midrange jumper.
 
Lincoln went on a six-point run in the middle of the fourth quarter but it wasn't enough to close the gap. The Tritons ended the night with a 25-point margin of victory.
 
Wolff lead UMSL with 18 points, seven rebounds, and one steal. Rolfes and Rieder were next, tied with 15 points. Rolfes had two assists while Rieder had 11 rebounds, including nine defensive boards.
 
The Tritons shot 49.2 percent (31-for-63) from the field including 6-of-11 from beyond the arc. UMSL also shot 77 percent at the foul line and outrebounded the Blue Tigers 47-to-28 in the contest.
 
Lincoln shot 31 percent (18-for-58) from the field, was 2-of-13 from beyond the arc and shot 71 percent from the free-throw line. Imani Harris led the Blue Tigers with 13 points, five rebounds, and one steal.
 
The Tritons continue their four-game road trip on Saturday traveling down to Rolla, Mo., to take on Missouri S&T at 1 p.m. at Gibson Arena.