SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Bellarmine used a 29-6 run in the second half to pull away from and defeat the University of Illinois Springfield women's basketball, 67-48, Thursday evening at the Recreation and Athletic Center.

The Prairie Stars (5-13, 1-9 GLVC) held the Knights to just 27 percent shooting from the floor in the first half. Bellarmine took advantage of 16 first-half turnovers by UIS on its way to a 25-24 halftime lead. UIS shot 45 percent (11-24) in the period.

The teams traded buckets in the opening minutes of the second half. UIS held a 27-25 lead after a bucket from freshman Shelbi Patterson (Indianapolis, Ind.). With the score tied at 29 at the 17:32 minute-mark, the Knights took control of the game with a 29-6 run that stretched over the next 12 minutes. Nine Prairie Stars' turnovers during the run helped the visitors take the lead.

Junior Jameeshia Armstrong (Chicago, Ill.) led UIS on the offensive end, scoring a team-high 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the field. She was 3-for-5 in the second half with three rebounds and one assist. Three UIS players finished with eight points including seniors Courtney Knuckles (Poplar Bluff, Mo.), Cassie Wolfe (Plainfield, Ill.) and Patterson. Knuckles end the game with three boards, two assists and two steals in just 19 minutes of action.

Both teams struggled from behind the arc. The Prairie Stars held the Knights to 5-of-24 shooting but connected on only one of their nine three-point tries.

UIS is back in action on Saturday against Southern Indiana.