ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Purdue University Northwest women's basketball team was unable to hold on to an early lead as Missouri-St. Louis was able to come out on top and pick up the victory after taking control of the game in the second quarter.

The Tritons (1-3) defeated the Pride (1-2), 88-62, at Chuck Smith Court inside the Mark Twain Building on Saturday.

PNW led 20-15 in the first quarter after Tayler Vauters (Rockville, Ind./Riverton Parke) hit a pair of free throws as that was the biggest lead of the night for the Pride.

McKenzie Lathrom tied the game at 22 with her three-pointer at the 9:36 mark in the second quarter. After the Tritons took the 24-22 lead, Karissa Hucke (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) tied it right back with a layup but UMSL would take control the rest of the game.

The Tritons expanded their lead to 11 at the halftime break after a pair of free-throws by Alexa Chairs. Molly DeValkenaere (Milwaukee, Wis./Brookfield) cut it to eight with her free throw at the 4:19 left in the third quarter but UMSL went on a 10-2 run to end the quarter to go ahead by 16.

UMSL came out hitting on all cylinders in the fourth quarter scoring the first six points before Kaylee Hardy (Saranac, Mich./Saranac) ended their run with a huge triple with 6:14 left in the game.

The Tritons took control the rest of the way earning the 88-62 victory. 

Brittany Barnard (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) led PNW with 12 points. Vauters added 11 points in the setback.

PNW returns to action Tuesday, Nov. 20 when the Pride host Lewis University at the Fitness and Rec Center starting at 5 pm (CST).