Box Score | Season Stats

TOPEKA, Kan. -- The No. 3-ranked Washburn Lady Blues opened the 2008-09 regular season with a 73-50 win over Missouri-St. Louis in Lee Arena. Washburn will be back in action on Saturday when they play host to Southwestern College at 7 p.m.

Washburn trailed by as many as three in the first half at 9 to 6, but after back-to-back 3-pointers by Alyssa Mullen and Stevi Schutlz Washburn was off and running 17 entering the halftime break. Washburn was 15-of-28 from the field in the opening stanza for 54 percent while they held Missouri-St. Louis to 9-of-28 from the field.

In the second half, both teams were cold coming back out to the floor and UMSL cut the Lady Blues' lead to 15 and 40-25 but the Tritons would get no closer than 16 the remainder of the game.

Stanecia Graham led all scorers with 15 points hitting 6-of-9 field goal attempts. Renata Germano scored 10 off the bench. MaryHelen Slaughter led the Tritons with 13 points.

Washburn shot 55 percent in the second half (12-of-22) and finished with a 54 percent shooting night connecting on 27-of-50 from the field. Washburn also was 14-of-15 from the free throw line. Washburn held a 37 to 24 advantage on the backboards and doubled up the Tritons in the paint 40 to 20. Washburn did have one more turnover than UMSL committing 20 leading to 13 points for their opponent.

Karla Tailele had five assists to lead the team and Mullen had a team-high seven rebounds. Jessica Mainz saw 13 minutes of action after participating in her first basketball practice yesterday after joining the team after the conclusion of the Lady Blues soccer season in the NCAA Tournament. Fellow soccer player Lauren Henry plaed two minutes.