February 23, 2008

Balanced Attack Keys Women's Basketball Victory at Rockhurst

BOX SCORE

KANSAS CITY, MO. – Five players scored in double figures as the University of Missouri-St. Louis women’s basketball team snapped a four-game losing streak with a 78-73 victory at Rockhurst Saturday afternoon in Great Lakes Valley action.

Junior Mary Slaughter scored 15 points, while senior Taylor Gagliano added 14 points to pace the attack. Senior Amanda Miller chipped in a season-high 12 points, while junior Kristi White also netted 12 points. Senior Courtney Watts finished with 11 points.

The win pushes UMSL to 7-17 overall, including 4-12 in the GLVC, while Rockhurst falls to 8-17, including 3-14 in the league.

UMSL used a 27-7 run in the second half to turn a six-point deficit into a 14-point advantage en route to the win. Rockhurst took a 47-41 lead on a three-pointer by Chelsea Barnett four minutes into the second half, but from there, the Tritons connected on 10-of-15 shots and a three-pointer by sophomore Lindsey Ransome with 8:14 to play gave the Tritons a 68-54 lead.

However, the Hawks would not go away, going on an 18-7 run of their own and pulling to within 75-73 with 1:03 to play after five straight points by Amy Hake.

The Tritons finished the game shooting 51.7 percent from the floor and held a 35-32 rebounding advantage. Gagliano and Miller each pulled down seven rebounds. Rockhurst shot 44.6 percent from the floor.

UMSL jumped out to a 20-11 lead on a jumper by Gagliano with just over 11 minutes to play in the first half. Rockhurst responded with an 11-2 run over the next three and a half minutes to tie the score at 22-22 on a Julie Cook steal and lay-up. Cook had 7 points during the Hawks’ run. Rockhurst held a 34-32 halftime advantage.

Watts, who also recorded eight assists in the contest, pushed her career scoring total to 1,016, moving her into eighth place all-time in school history.

Senior Leslie Ricker collected three rebounds to move into eighth place all-time with 528 career rebounds.

UMSL will be back in action tomorrow afternoon at Drury at 3:15 p.m.