SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The Prairie Stars outscored Truman State 18-2 over the final six minutes of the game as the University of Illinois Springfield women's basketball team defeated the Bulldogs, 72-57, Saturday afternoon at the Recreation and Athletic Center.
With the win, UIS is now 5-7 overall and 1-3 in GLVC play. It was the first time that the Prairie Stars have defeated Truman State in the program's history. Truman is now 9-4 and 3-2 in GLVC play.
The Prairie Stars trailed, 55-54, after a three-pointer from Truman's Allison Wiese with 6:33 to go in the game. A bucket from junior
Jessica Warren (University Park, Ill.) just 20 seconds later kickstarted a 18-2 UIS run over the remainder of the game. The Springfield squad stifled the Bulldog offense down the stretch, holding the visitors to just 1-of-14 shooting in the final six minutes. Truman shot only 33 percent from the floor in the game, well below its season average of 42 percent.
Junior
Jameeshia Armstrong (Chicago, Ill.) led the four Prairie Stars in double-figures with a career-high 16 points. Armstrong was on fire from the floor, converting her first five shots before finally missing a three-ball at the 14-minute mark of the second half. Sophomore
Syerra Cunningham (Beach Park, Ill.) scored 10 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season and second in the last three games.
Freshman
Shelbi Patterson (Indianpolis, Ind.) added 11 points, five rebounds and four assists. Junior Makeba Elliot (Chicago, Ill.) netted a career-high 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting and
Jessica Warren scored nine points to go with eight rebounds.
The Prairie Stars put together one of their best games of the season against the Bulldogs. The team shot 53 percent from the field (27-51), turned the ball over only 13 times with only three in the second half and outrebounded Truman 40-36 despite Truman having a 22-15 rebounding advantage at halftime.
Truman led 31-29 going into halftime behind eight points from Ashley Hartwing, her only points of the game. The Prairie Stars shot 56 percent in the first half but only took 16 shots while Truman took 33 shots and grabbed 12 offensive rebounds.
UIS hits the road next weekend for games at UW-Parkside and No. 2 Lewis.
