The Illinois Springfield women's basketball team showed resilience in a 72-62 road loss to McKendree on Saturday afternoon. The Prairie Stars fall to 0-8 overall and 0-4 in GLVC action.
Game Recap
- The Prairie Stars fell behind early as McKendree opened the first quarter with a commanding 31-13 lead, fueled by 13-of-21 shooting, including 15 points in the paint. UIS struggled to match the Bearcats' intensity despite a three-pointer from Emari Doby that briefly gave the Prairie Stars an edge in the opening moments
- UIS found its footing in the second quarter as McKendree cooled off. The Prairie Stars capitalized with timely three-pointers and a perfect 4-for-4 performance from the free-throw line, trimming the deficit to 10 points before heading into halftime trailing 43-31
- The Prairie Stars edged the Bearcats 16-15 in the third quarter, with Kayla Rice and Doby leading the charge
- The Prairie Stars continued to battle in the fourth quarter, outscoring McKendree 15-14, but the early deficit proved insurmountable. McKendree's Baylie Parks was dominant, recording a double-double with 28 points on 13-of-15 shooting and 12 rebounds
- UIS showed improvement in several areas, including forcing 20 turnovers and converting them into 18 points. The Prairie Stars also connected on 85.7% of their free throws, but McKendree's efficiency in the paint—50 points compared to 32 by UIS—ultimately sealed the game
- Rice finished the game with 22 points, including 4-of-10 from beyond the arc, while Doby added 16 points and a team-high nine rebounds
Up Next
The Prairie Stars return to action on Saturday, Dec. 14, when they host the Wisconsin Parkside Rangers at home. As part of the game-day festivities, the team is hosting a toy drive to benefit HSHS St. John's Children's Hospital. Fans are encouraged to bring a toy donation and will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a prize.
Around the GLVC
Lewis 56, Missouri-St. Louis 50
Quincy 85, Missouri S&T 60
Southwest Baptist 81, William Jewell 80
Drury 97, Truman State 72
Upper Iowa 69, Lincoln 56
McKendree 72, Illinois Springfield 62
Maryville 76, Indianapolis 73