ST. LOUIS, Mo. - In the Prairie Stars' first game since December 21, the University of Illinois Springfield women's basketball couldn't keep up with Missouri St. Louis, falling 54-34 Friday evening at the Mark Twain Building.

The Prairie Stars welcomed back junior-transfers Caroline Kelty (River Forest, Ill.), Makeba Elliot (Chicago, Ill.) and Jameeshia Armstrong (Chicago, Ill.). The trio missed the teams last five games.

Armstrong made her first start for the Prairie Stars on Friday and led the team with nine points, all from three-point shots. Elliot added seven points for the visiting Prairie Stars on 2-of-3 shooting from the floor.

UIS trailed, 26-6, at the half while shooting just 10 percent (2-20) from the floor. Senior Courtney Knuckles' (Poplar Bluff, Mo.) three-pointer at the 12:45 minute-mark made the score 11-6 in favor of the Tritons. The hosts closed the half on a 15-0 run, forcing 14 UIS turnovers in the half.

The second period was a completely different affair. The Prairie Stars went toe-to-toe with the Tritons as both teams scored 28 points in the half. UIS trimmed the deficit to as few as 13, 47-34, after a jumper from junior Briana Starks (Hutchinson, Kan.) with 4:38 left in the game. That was as close as they got, however, as the hosts finished out the game on a 7-0 run to make the final score 54-34.

UMSL held the Prairie Stars to a season-low 34 points while picking up its first GLVC win of the season.Three players scored in double-figures for the Tritons led by Jordan Fletcher's 14 points. The hosts owned a plus-one rebounding margin for the game, 39-38. UIS junior Jessica Warren (University Park, Ill.) pulled down a game-high nine boards.

UIS travels to Maryville on Sunday looking for its first conference win of the season. Game time is set for 1 p.m.