ST. LOUIS -- The No. 25 and top seeded University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team defeated eighth seeded Upper Iowa 66-56 to advance to the GLVC semifinals for the first time since 2022 on Thursday afternoon at the Mark Twain Building. The Tritons improve to 23-4 while the Peacocks finish their season with a record of 14-15.

The 23 wins for UMSL matches the school record set back in the 2021-22 season.

Mara Rieder had a GLVC Tournament record with nine blocks in the contest to go along with game-highs in points (22) and rebounds (10). She was a blocked shot shy of a triple double.

It was a slow start for both teams after an opening Anna Costa Riera layup. The Tritons defense kept Upper Iowa off the board until three minutes into the game, giving up just a single point off a free-throw.

The Peacocks tied the game up at six at the midway point of the first, but free throw shooting from Jayden Kuper but the Tritons back on top. Jumpers from Rieder and Costa Riera helped keep the Tritons ever so slightly out in front.

Kuper hit a buzzer beater to send the Tritons into the second quarter with a nine-point lead, their largest of the quarter.

UMSL extended that run to 16-0 scoring the first seven points of the second stanza to build its largest lead of the contest at 28-12. The Peacocks cut the lead to ten points twice in the frame but the Tritons defense, including five blocks from Rieder helped keep the 10-point lead secure.

Upper Iowa cut the lead to three to start the third quarter before Rieder answered with a jump shot. Kuper added a defensive rebound and layup on the other end to reestablish the Tritons flow.
Costa Riera knocked down a three with four minutes to go in the third to restore UMSL's ten point lead.

Both teams found the basket in the fourth quarter, with the Peacocks cutting the lead to four points with five minutes to go. Rieder made a free throw and then scored a jump shot on the next play, thanks to three offensive rebounds that helped the Tritons burn time and retain possession.

With two minutes to go, the Tritons had a seven point lead, forcing Upper Iowa to foul the remainder of the game. Costa Riera hit five free throws down the stretch to keep UMSL comfortably in the lead.

The Tritons shot 43 percent (22-for-51) from the field, were 2-of-13 from three and shot 69 percent at the foul line. They outrebounded the Peacocks 44-to-33 and had 11 assists on 22 made field goals. Joining Rieder in double figures were Kuper and Costa Riera with 17 points apiece.

Upper Iowa 35 percent (24-for-68) from the floor, including 5-of-23 from three and 50 percent at the foul line. Kendyl Lodermeier led three Peacocks in double figures with 17 points. Ava Privet and Ellie Foster had 12 points apiece.

The Tritons play the winner of fifth seeded Lewis and fourth seeded McKendree on Saturday (March 7) at noon in the Mark Twain Building.