The Prairie Stars welcome a pair of GLVC opponents to TRAC this week. First, they face McKendree on Thursday night, with a special National Girls & Women in Sports Day celebration. Then, on Saturday, UIS takes on Maryville at 1 p.m. as part of its Black History Month recognition.
Illinois Springfield (5-16, 4-9 GLVC)
With wins in two of its last four games, UIS debuted 11th in the GLVC Point Rating System (PRS) over the weekend. The PRS determines the eight teams that qualify for the league's championship tournament.
UIS fell in a 49-48 heartbreaker to UMSL last week, staying close in the first half before a tough third quarter created too much of a gap to overcome. The Prairie Stars outscored UMSL 16-8 in the fourth in a defensive battle but couldn't erase the deficit, allowing the Tritons to complete the season sweep.
In its first-ever GLVC matchup against league newcomer Lincoln, UIS played an even first half before pulling away late in a 53-44 win. Foul trouble became a factor for both teams, with Lincoln staying within striking distance at 43-40 with three minutes to play. UIS responded with an 8-4 run to seal the victory.
With three home games in the next eight days, the Prairie Stars have a key opportunity to build on their momentum from the Lincoln win as they enter the final seven games of the regular season.
McKendree (11-8, 7-6 GLVC)
The McKendree Bearcats are currently on a three-game losing streak, most recently falling 69-65 at Maryville and 68-50 at UMSL.
Against the Maryville Saints, McKendree was led by sophomore Baylie Parks, who scored a career-high 35 points. The Bearcats held a 32-26 lead at halftime, and the second half began with traded baskets. With 2:20 left and the Bearcats trailing by one, the Saints scored eight consecutive points to regain a five-point lead. McKendree fought back, with Parks hitting a step-back three-pointer with 14 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to one. However, Maryville capitalized on intentional fouling and sealed the 69-65 victory at the free-throw line.
Against the UMSL Tritons, McKendree stayed competitive in the first half before being outpaced in the second. The game was tied 16-16 after one quarter and 24-24 at the half. Coming out of halftime, UMSL caught fire with a 12-2 run. In the next four and a half minutes, both teams scored 10 points, leaving McKendree trailing by 10. UMSL pulled away in the fourth quarter, scoring five straight points to extend the lead to 51-36. McKendree did its best to claw back, making all eight of its free throws, but the deficit was too much to overcome, and the Bearcats fell 68-50 on the road.
The Bearcats have averaged 73.8 points per game this season, though their scoring has dropped to 65.2 points per contest over the last six games, reflecting a decline in offensive production. McKendree debuted sixth in the GLVC PRS rankings on Saturday.
UIS and McKendree met on Saturday, Dec. 7, with McKendree emerging victorious by a 72-62 scoreline.
Maryville (9-11, 7-5 GLVC)
The win against McKendree was the Saints' only game this past weekend, as they were off on Saturday, Feb. 1. Faith Hawthorne led the team with 13 points in a balanced, team-effort win.
Maryville started the year with a four-game win streak before suffering losses to Drury and UMSL. Following their win over McKendree, the Saints were ranked fifth in the league's PRS rankings released after Saturday's games.
The Saints won 79-58 when UIS played on their turf at the start of December. UIS will look to avenge the loss in this rematch.
Promotions
- Thursday, Feb. 6 at 5:30 PM – National Girls and Women in Sports Day Celebration: Fans can enjoy photo opportunities, a poster-making and coloring station, in-game entertainment, and the chance to participate in contests for prizes.
- Saturday, Feb. 8 at 3:00 PM – Black History Games: Join us as we celebrate Black History Month with special events and recognition throughout the game.
Follow Along
The games will be streamed live on the GLVC Sports Network, and live statistics are available for fans who would like to follow online.