The UIS women's basketball team is back at TRAC this week for a pair of important GLVC games. First, UIS will take on Truman State on Thursday, Jan. 9, at 5:30 p.m., followed by a Saturday showdown with Quincy at 1:00 p.m. Both games are pivotal as the Prairie Stars aim to build momentum in conference play.

Illinois Springfield (2-11, 1-4 GLVC)
The Prairie Stars have found a spark in the new year, picking up their first two victories in as many games. UIS comes into Saturday's matchup against Quincy on the heels of two impressive performances over Saint Ambrose and Indianapolis.

UIS defeated Saint Ambrose 72-44 in a dominant performance. After a close first quarter, the Prairie Stars surged ahead with a 28-point second quarter to take a 40-21 halftime lead. Niyah Udoiwod led the charge with a career-high 22 points, and Emari Doby added 10. UIS capitalized on 20 forced turnovers, scoring 23 points off them, while shooting 53.3% from the field.

UIS earned its first GLVC win of the season with a 71-63 victory over Indianapolis on Sunday. Kayla Rice led with 20 points, and Allysia McDaniel posted a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds. The Prairie Stars built a double-digit lead in the third quarter and held off a late UIndy rally. UIS shot 41.5% from the field and forced 17 turnovers to secure the win.

UIS enters this game with momentum from their recent victories, led by Kayla Rice who is averaging 16.5 points per game. Saharra Murphy, with 3.54 assists per game, has also been instrumental to the team's offense. The Prairie Stars are averaging 61.5 points per game, shooting 40.7% from the field and 29.7% from three-point range.

UIS' recent form shows a team that is improving on both ends of the floor. With a solid defensive foundation and balanced scoring, the Prairie Stars will look to carry this momentum into their upcoming GLVC matchups, including their rivalry game against Quincy on Jan. 11.

Truman State (5-9, 2-2 GLVC)
Truman State enters Thursday's game on a four-game losing streak but holds a 2-2 record in GLVC play, with wins over Southwest Baptist and Rockhurst. Most recently, the Bulldogs lost 74-72 to Missouri S&T on Jan. 3.

In that contest, Truman State battled back after trailing by as many as 12 points in the third quarter. A late run allowed them to take a 72-69 lead with under a minute to play, but S&T answered with a clutch three-pointer and a game-winning layup in the final seconds. Jordan Cunningham led the Bulldogs with 25 points, while Molly Joyce had 11 points, 10 rebounds, and played a key role in the team's late-game push.

Cunningham, 17.4 points per game, and Joyce, 15.3 points per game, are the driving forces of Truman State's offense. Joyce, the 2023-24 GLVC Freshman of the Year, has already earned a GLVC Player of the Week award this season. The Bulldogs score an average of 70.4 points per game, shooting 40.9% from the field and 27.0% from three-point range.

Quincy (8-5, 2-2 GLVC)
Quincy, with a 2-2 record in GLVC play heading into this week, will first face UIndy on the road before meeting UIS on Saturday. Most recently, the Hawks dominated GLVC newcomer Lincoln with an 80-49 victory. The Hawks shot efficiently, including a strong 9-of-15 from the field in the second quarter, and limited Lincoln to just nine points after halftime to secure the win. Mariann Blass led the Hawks with 13 points, including two three-pointers, while Cymirah Williams added 12 points and a team-high 8 rebounds. Karsyn Stratton contributed 10 points and 5 assists.

Key players for Quincy include Nicole McDermott, who leads the team with 14.8 points per game, and Mariann Blass, who contributes 13.5 points per game and has been efficient from long range with a 37.5% three-point shooting percentage. As a team, Quincy boasts strong shooting stats, with a 44.3% mark from the field and 35.8% from three-point range.

Game Promotions
Special Olympics Night (1/9) – Join us for a fun-filled evening as UIS teams up with Special Olympics Illinois! We're excited to host this special event at TRAC, celebrating inclusion and the power of sport.

BoS Rivalry Cup & Youth Day (1/11) – Don't miss the action as the Prairie Stars take on the Quincy Hawks in the intense BoS Cup Rivalry! Local youth are invited to enjoy the thrilling matchups. The BoS Cup tradition, which began in the 2000s as a rivalry competition, was revived with new trophies in 2023-24, and UIS currently holds both of them. The trophy presentations will take place on-court immediately following each game on Saturday. 

Follow Along
Both games will be streamed live on the GLVC Sports Network, and fans can also keep up with live stats available online.