St. Louis, MO - The Stephens Stars put together a complete performance on the road Saturday afternoon, earning a 72-56 win over UHSP to improve to 12-13 overall and 11-4 in conference play.
Stephens came out sharp in the opening quarter, building a 24-18 lead and setting the pace early. The Stars extended their advantage to 36-29 by halftime, then created separation in the third quarter. A 19-10 run coming out of the break pushed the lead to 55-39 heading into the final period and gave Stephens firm control of the game.
LaiJanique Perry-Ellis led the offensive effort with 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting, while also dishing out seven assists and grabbing three rebounds. Quimari Shelton added 19 points and a game-high 13 rebounds to record a double-double, going a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line. Sydney Reddin chipped in 14 points, connecting on three shots from beyond the arc.
As a team, Stephens shot nearly 40 percent from the field and was efficient at the line, converting 16 of 18 free-throw attempts. The Stars controlled the glass with 40 total rebounds, including 11 offensive boards, and applied steady defensive pressure, forcing 20 turnovers and collecting 13 steals.
With consistent scoring across all four quarters and a strong defensive showing, Stephens maintained a comfortable margin throughout the second half to secure the 16-point conference victory.