ROLLA, Mo. – Looing to rebound after another tough loss in the late going on the road, the Missouri S&T women's basketball team returns to Gibson Arena this week for two Great Lakes Valley Conferences contests as they play host to McKendree Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon against Missouri-St. Louis.
Saturday's game against the Tritons will be Military Appreciation Day at Missouri S&T, presented by Realty Executive/Ferrell Associates and Dickey's Barbeque Pit.
 
The Miners (7-12, 4-9) have been playing some of their best basketball of the season in recent weeks but the results haven't been reflected in the record, as they have dropped three-straight contests in which they have either been leading or threatening to lead in the late going after winning three of their previous four games. Alex Kerr (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph's Academy) (13.0 PPG, 6.6 PPG) is coming of her fourth double-double of the season, scoring 22 and pulling down 11 boards in the losing effort to the Saints. Despite only scoring nine points last time out, Laura Rodriguez (Gran Canaria, Spain/Baloncesto Torrelodones) is still averaging better than 14 points per night and leads the team with 40 assists, marking the second season in her career to reach that number. Jada Lindesmith (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lutheran) scored a career-high 14 points against Maryville for her fourth double-figure outing of the season, while Marta Durk (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) (7.2 PPG), who recently became the program's all-time leader in games played with 118, leads the team with 33 steals and remains one of the leaders in the GLVC in that category.
 
McKendree (3-16, 2-10) has also dropped their last three, including a 30-point loss to SBU Monday in a contest rescheduled from Thursday due to last week's blast of winter weather. The Bearcats last win came on January 27 over William Jewell, but in their three most recent games, have been outscored by an average of 29 PPG. Christy Fortune (11.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG) is the leader in scoring and rebounds and is shooting .420 from the floor and .378 from beyond the arc this season. She is joined in double-figures by Clare Breden (11.6 PPG) leads the team with nine blocks to go along with 30 assists and 21 steals on the year. Haley Zylka's 44 assists lead the Bearcats while Erin Golden has 22 steals to lead the team.
 
UMSL (17-2, 13-1), who checked in at #23 in the latest WBCA Coaches Poll, has been one of the best teams in the GLVC this season and has the best record in league play this season. Following a 72-40 win over Rockhurst Monday evening, the Tritons will take on Maryville Thursday before heading to Rolla Saturday. Kiara Stewart (14.1 PPG, 7.1 RPG) leads the team in blocks with 11, as well as both scoring and rebounding and is one of three Tritons averaging double-figures. Alex LaPorta (11.8 PPG), who leads the team in assists with 72, and Faye Meissner (10.0 PPG) round out that group while Mallory Ronshausen, the team leader in made three-pointers with 39, is just shy of that group with 9.9 PPG. Danielle Berry and LaPorta are tied for the team lead with 32 steals , with the former also logging 44 assists.
 
The Miners are 10-7 all-time against McKendree but have dropped the last five meetings, including an 86-81 game last February and haven't won in the series since 2017. Earlier this season against the Tritons, S&T struggled shooting the ball and came out on the wrong end of a 74-39 contest on January 8.