Sophomore forward Mara Rieder averaged 14.5 points and 5.5 rebounds off the bench while leading the Tritons to wins over Southwest Baptist and Rockhurst. (Photo by Patrick Clark/Athlete’s Eye Photography)

Women’s Basketball
The University of Missouri–St. Louis women’s basketball team went 2-0 last week with dominant defensive efforts against Southwest Baptist and Rockhurst at the Mark Twain Athletic Center. The Tritons held the Bearcats to 32.1% shooting and forced 15 turnovers in a 64-47 victory on Thursday night, and they followed it up by holding the Hawks to 33.9% shooting, including 2 for 15 from 3-point range, in a 70-52 victory on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore forward Mara Rieder led UMSL offensively in both games, tying Katie Hamill for the team lead with 13 points in only 15 minutes off the bench on Thursday and scoring a game-high 16 points with nine rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots in Saturday’s win. She shot a combined 12 for 20 from the field in the two games. Hamill posted a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds against Southwest Baptist and added 12 points and five rebounds against Rockhurst. Kate Rolfes chipped in 12 points for the Tritons on Thursday, and Audrey Martinez-Stewart had 10 points on Saturday. UMSL (11-3, 5-2 Great Lakes Valley Conference) will head back on the road to face Lincoln on Thursday and Missouri S&T on Saturday.

Men’s Basketball
Looming winter weather forced a second straight postponement for the Tritons as Thursday night’s scheduled game against Southwest Baptist was moved to Monday. When UMSL did take the court against Rockhurst on Saturday in their first game since Jan. 3, its defense was not sharp. The Hawks shot 50% from the field, including 48% from 3-point range, and had all five starters reach double figures in an 88-71 victory at the Mark Twain Athletic Center. Jesse White scored a game-high 27 points, going 6 for 10 from beyond the arc, and Brian Hawthorne added 20 points. UMSL also shot 50% from the field and had four players in double figures, but it wasn’t enough to keep pace. The Tritons were only 6 for 18 from 3-point range and got outscored 20-7 at the foul line. Savon Wykle scored a team-best 17 points, Emanuel Prospere II had 15, Matt Enright added 14 and Troy Glover II finished with 13 in the loss. Prospere II also paced UMSL with seven rebounds and five assists. The Tritons will make up the game against the Bearcats on Monday and then head on the road to face Lincoln on Thursday and Missouri S&T on Saturday.