Junior center Jordan Fletcher overwhelmed both Maryville and St. Joseph’s inside last week, averaging 24.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in a pair of victories that propelled the Tritons into the quarterfinals of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.
Women’s Basketball
UMSL closed the regular season with a solid defensive effort in a 79-45 win over crosstown foe Maryville last Thursday before taking care of Saint Joseph’s in the first round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament. Junior Jordan Fletcher scored a game-high 20 points to go with 11 rebounds and three blocks, helping the Tritons to a 51-21 rebounding advantage. The win gave UMSL a home game on Sunday in the opening round action of the GLVC Tournament, and No. 7 seed UMSL defeated No. 10 seed St. Joseph’s 58-43. Fletcher again was a force in the paint with 29 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks. UMSL (16-11) booked a spot in the quarterfinals and travels to Evansville, Indiana, this weekend for the conclusion of the GLVC Tournament. The Tritons, now the No. 6 seed, will take on No. 3 seed Lewis at 8:30 p.m. Friday. The semifinals are Saturday night with the championship game to be played Sunday afternoon.
Men’s Basketball
The Tritons defeated Maryville 68-48 last Thursday in UMSL’s regular-season finale to clinch the final spot in the GLVC Tournament but were knocked out of the first round by Indianapolis. All 12 players scored for UMSL against Maryville with junior Steven Davis’ 12 points leading the way. The team didn’t have enough punch Sunday in a 76-63 season-ending loss to Indianapolis on the road. Junior D.J. White scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Davis added 12 on four 3-pointers. He finished the year with 88 3-pointers, one shy of the school record. The Tritons finished the year with an 11-18 record.
Baseball
UMSL opened the year with a pair of losses at the Dunn Hospitality Tournament, hosted by Southern Indiana. The Tritons lost 13-6 against No. 24 Indianapolis despite taking an early 4-0 lead in the Saturday game. On Sunday, Saint Joseph’s edged UMSL 3-1. Junior Jacob Monti had three hits in the two games, while on the mound senior Zach Lindsay went five innings against Saint Joseph’s, allowing just one unearned run on three hits and striking out four. The Tritons (0-2) travel to Southwest Baptist on Tuesday before heading south for eight games. They will stop in Cartersville, Georgia, on Friday and Saturday for games against Wayne State (Michigan) and Illinois Springfield, respectively, before six games in Florida next week.
Women’s Tennis
The Tritons won their spring opener Sunday, defeating conference foe Bellarmine 7-2 in a nonleague contest. Graduate students Kristine Lindal and Carlota Trevino and freshman Marina Prediger all won both singles and doubles matches for UMSL, which improved to 2-0 in dual matches. The Tritons return to action on Saturday, hosting McKendree.
Men’s Golf
Sixth-ranked UMSL posted a fifth-place finish at the Newberry College Invitational last Monday and Tuesday to open the spring portion of its schedule. The Tritons turned in a team score of 901 (292-300-309) in the field of 16 teams. Senior Julien de Poyen led the way with a total of 221 (70-74-77) and tied for eighth. UMSL returns to the links next Sunday and Monday, hosting the Las Vegas Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Nevada.
