ST. LOUIS -- The University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team used a strong second half to win its third game in a row with a 68-50 win over McKendree at the Mark Twain Building on Saturday afternoon. The Tritons move to 16-4, 10-3 GLVC while the Bearcats drop to 11-8, 7-6 GLVC.
 
The win also snapped UMSL's three-game losing streak against McKendree.
 
Despite an early Alex Wolff jumper, the Tritons started low, trading points in the paint with the Bearcats.
 
Audrey Martinez-Stewart and Kate Rolfes both hit key three-point shots to keep the Tritons neck and neck with McKendree. Martinez-Stewart made hers midway through the quarter, before Rolfes hit one with 0:38 left in the quarter to send the Tritons into the second quarter tied at 16.
 
It was a tough, defensive quarter for both teams with only 16 total points scored in the quarter. Katie Hamill scored half of UMSL's points with two mid-range jump shots. Martinez-Stewart would add a layup before Mara Rieder had a tip-in layup to wrap up the Tritons second quarter scoring.
 
This time, the Bearcats would tie the game 24-24 with an Emma Slings buzzer beater three from just inside half court.
 
It was a dominate third quarter that set the Tritons up for the win. UMSL prevented McKendree from securing any second chance points in the third. The Bearcats also went 0-5 from the free-throw line in the third, helping the Tritons to extend their lead.
 
Martinez-Stewart hit a three early in the third to build the Tritons momentum. Then Rolfes shot 50% from the three-point arc, making three of her six attempts for nine points. All told, it would be a 27-point quarter for the Tritons, after a slow first half.
 
The three-point shooting of Martinez-Stewart and Rolfes continued into the fourth, with the duo adding nine more points between them to keep the Tritons in front. Paint scores by Morgan Ramthun and Rieder added to UMSL's total, making them dangerous from all areas of the floor. 
 
As a team the Tritons shot 44.3 percent (27-for-61) from the field including 9-of-21 from the three-point arc and shot 83 percent from the free throw line. Rolfes led the Tritons with a season-high 20 points, two rebounds, and two steals. Rieder had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
 
The Bearcats shot 41.3 percent (19-for-46) from the floor, were 1-of-8 from the three-point arc and shot 61 percent (11-for-18) from the free throw line. Baylie Parks led McKendree with 14 points, six rebounds, and two blocks. Slings was next with 11 points and a steal.
 
UMSL heads back out on the road next Thursday (Feb. 6) as it travels to Romeoville, Ill., to take on the Lewis Flyers at 5:30 p.m. from Neil Carey Arena. The Flyers held on for a 75-73 win at Drury on Saturday.