Box Score

(Rolla, Mo.) – The Missouri S&T Lady Miners clinched at least a share of the GLVC West Division crown in dominating fashion 85-68 over Missouri-St. Louis on Saturday night. It marks the first time since S&T switched to the GLVC that it has won any kind of league title.

It also marks the third time in school history and second in the last four seasons that the Lady Miners have won 20 or more games in a season.

S&T (20-6, 14-4 GLVC) got off to a fast start making its first four shots from the field and foul line to take a 13-4 lead four minutes into the game. It would be a trend for the night as the Lady Miners shot a season-high 61 percent from the floor.

The Tritons (10-16, 5-13 GLVC) cut the lead to 24-23 at the 8:27 mark, but S&T responded with a 6-2 run to stretch its lead back to five points. UMSL continued to hang around before the Lady Miners hit them with a big 13-2 run over a 2:30 minute stretch to take a 43-30 lead on a pair of free throws by D'Naya Mims (Chicago, Ill./Harlan Community Academy). Karli Sample (St. Joseph, Mo./Benton) and Senait McLeod (Miami, Fla./Coral Reef) combined for seven points during that stretch.

Toni Knar (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein)'s three with just over a minute left extended the lead to the biggest of the half at 14. UMSL countered with four straight to make it 10, but Knar buried her third triple of the half to give S&T a 49-36 lead at the break.

The Lady Miners missed only eight shots from the field in the first half and were 4-for-6 from three and 9-of-11 at the foul line. They grabbed 15 rebounds to the Tritons 14. Knar finished the half with 11 to lead all scorers. Sample, Courtney Kemp (Fredricktown, Mo./Fredricktown), Julie Meyer (Marthasville, Mo./St. Francis Borgia) and Hailee Parks (Sullivan, Mo./Sullivan) had six points each.

UMSL shot the ball well too making 42 percent of its attempts but was just 2-for-9 from the perimeter and 8-of-12 at the line. Kelly Mitchell had 10 points to lead the Tritons while Kiki Robinson, Hana Haden and Normeka Holder had six each.

S&T continued to dominate in the second half expanding its lead to 21 points on a fast break layup by Meyer less than eight minutes into the second half. The lead wouldn't get below 16 the rest of the way as the Lady Miners countered every run by UMSL.

S&T cooled off shooting the ball a little in the second half but still finished over 50 percent for the frame. It was one off its season-highs for field goals made in game with 33 and assists with 24. Knar led five players in double figures with 14 points. Fareedah Washington (Forrest City, Ark./Forrest City) added 12 while Kemp, Sample and Meyer had 10 each. Sample matched her career-high in points scored and made a career-high five baskets. She also matched her career-high with seven rebounds and had a pair of blocks.

The Tritons finished the game shooting 40 percent from the floor, went 3-for-13 from downtown and was 19-for-30 at the foul line. Mitchell had 17 to lead all scorers while Haden dropped home 11.

The Lady Miners will be back at home next Saturday night hosting a first round GLVC Tournament game against either Lewis or Saint Joseph's beginning at 7 p.m.