UMSL recap
The Maryville women's basketball team used a 12-0 fourth quarter run Thursday evening to roar back and post a 62-53 victory at the University of Missouri-St. Louis Thursday night. The Saints overcame an 18-point deficit to record their first Great Lakes Valley Conference victory of the year. The rally is the largest of the Division II era since Maryville rallied from down 15 at Northwest Missouri State to win Nov. 17, 2018. Mary Barton poured in 23 points, while Jayda Jansen and Hunter Stidham hit crucial late baskets and finished with 16 and 12 points, respectively.
 
What Happened
Mary Barton drained a 3-pointer and scored on a driving layup to boost the Saints to an early 5-2 lead. Jayda Jansen sank a triple for an 8-5 edge but UMSL jumped ahead and took a 15-10 lead after the first. The Tritons got hot from the field in the second 10 minutes and took a double-digit lead. Donnetta Colbert converted two free throws to pull the Saints to within 22-12, and a Barton triple kept the deficit at 10. A late Triton lead boosted the home side to a 35-19 lead at intermission.
 
The Saints were still trailing 44-27 with six minutes left in the third before charging back. Barton hit two free throws to ignite the run and followed with a 3-pointer. Jansen and Barton scored back-to-back layups to close the 9-0 run. After two UMSL free throws, Jansen and Stidham swished wing 3-pointers, and a Barton layup at the third quarter buzzer pulled Maryville to within 46-44. The Saints were red-hot in the third and sank 10-of-14 from the field.
 
UMSL sank a trey to start the fourth for a five-point lead but the Saints responded with a 12-0 run to take command. Barton fed Abby Monis for a layup, and Jansen tacked on a driving layup. Stidham hit one free throw and drilled a 3-pointer for a 52-49 lead with 6:52 to play. The Saints defense kept the Tritons off the scoreboard for nearly seven minutes, and another Stidham triple pushed the edge to 55-49. The Saints sank five of six free throws in the final minute to close out the contest.
 
Maryville held UMSL to just two field goals in the fourth quarter and a 13.3 percent shooting percentage. Monis pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds. The Saints sank 8-of-16 from 3-pointer range and 12-of-14 at the free-throw line.
 
Statistical Leaders
Points: Mary Barton – 23
Rebounds: Abby Monis – 10
Assists: Mary Barton – 3
Steals: UU Longs – 2
Blocked Shots: Karlee Feldman – 2
3-Pointers: Mary Barton and Hunter Stidham – 3
 
Records
Maryville: 6-3, 1-1 GLVC
Missouri-St. Louis: 5-6, 0-2 GLVC
 
What's Next?
The Saints make their first trip to No. 25 Lindenwood for a Saturday afternoon GLVC clash. Game time at Hyland Arena is 1 p.m.