SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team fell 75-68 to the University of Illinois Springfield on Saturday afternoon at The Recreation and Activities Center (TRAC) in Springfield, Ill. The Tritons fall to 16-3, 12-1 GLVC while the Prairie Stars improve to 9-11, 6-6 GLVC.
 
It was a fast start for UMSL with Anna Costa Riera and Mara Reider scoring two quick layups. Reider scored ten in the quarter and pulled down five rebounds as the Tritons stormed to an 11-point lead before UIS chipped away at the score.
 
UMSL found success in the paint with all but two of their 22 points coming from layups. Two offensive rebounds helped extend the Tritons time with the ball and prevented the Prairie Stars from setting up offensively.  
 
In the second quarter turnovers caught up with the Tritons. UMSL had four turnovers in the first five minutes, allowing UIS to take a two-point lead with three minutes to go in the quarter. Reider answered on the next possession, securing an offensive rebound and going back up to put the layup away.
 
A Morgan Ramthun layup with 22 seconds to go sent the Tritons into the locker room with a one-point lead over the Prairie Stars.
 
It was a slow start to the third quarter for UMSL but Ramthun and Reider kept the Tritons in the game. A Reider offensive rebound into a Ramthun helped to get the Triton's offense going and give UMSL a two-point lead.
 
UIS had answers for UMSL but a crucial seven-point run by Jaeda Wilson gave the Tritons life. Wilson converted two free-throws, a layup, and a three-point attempt while also grabbing an offensive rebound to send the Tritons into the fourth quarter up by one point.
 
UMSL struggled to maintain momentum in the fourth quarter, falling behind by as many as eight points at one point. Costa Riera had a crucial three at the under four-minute mark to give the Tritons a chance. A minute later, Costa Riera stole the inbound pass and put it away to cut the lead to three.
 
The Tritons couldn't quite close the gap. UIS converted enough of their free-throws down the stretch to keep UMSL chasing the game.
 
UMSL shot 49.2 percent (30-for-61) from the field but was held to 2-of-13 shooting from the perimeter and shot 60 percent at the foul line. It outrebounded the Prairie Stars 33-to-25 in the contest. Rieder had game-highs in points (23) and rebounds (18) while Ramthun added 17 points and Riera and Wilson finished with 11 points each.
 
UIS shot 43 percent (23-for-53) from the field, including 9-of-17 from beyond the arc, and went shot 83 percent (20-for-24) from the free-throw line. Libby Blythe led the Prairie Stars with 18 points, four rebounds, and three steals while Julia Mingus added 17 points.
 
The Tritons return home to Mark Twain for two games next weekend starting with UIndy on Thursday (Feb.5) at 5:30 p.m.