LOUISVILLE, KY - Bellarmine outscored the Prairie Stars 14-7 in the third quarter as the University of Illinois Springfield women's basketball team fell to the Knights, 72-58, Thursday evening at Knights Hall.

The Prairie Stars (3-3) trailed by only four, 35-31, at the half after leading the Knights, 17-16, at the end of the first quarter. Senior Ashley McHenry's (Milwaukee, Wis.) layup just one minute into the third period pulled UIS within two, 35-33. McHenry finished with a team-high 16 points and tied teammate Meredith Marti (Indianapolis, Ind.) with nine rebounds. She only missed three shots on the night, shooting 8-for-12 from the floor.

After both teams turned the ball over, the Knights responded with a three pointer from Destony Curry to push their lead back to five. That kick started a 7-0 run in which the Prairie Stars shot 0-for-4 from the field.

Two mintues later at the 3:31 minute mark, junior Syerra Cunningham (Beach Park, Ill.) ended the run with a jumper, two of her nine points on the night. Bellarmine maintained its lead in the final three minutes of the period, capping off the quarter with another three ball from Curry to take a 49-38 lead into the fourth period. UIS shot 3-for-12 in the quarter.

Bellarmine extended its lead to as many as 14 at the 6:36 minute mark. The Prairie Stars didn't go away though. Junior Caroline Kelty (River Forest, Ill.) knocked down a three pointer to make the score 55-44. Kelty stuffed the stat sheet in the game, scoring eight points to go with eight boards, five assists and three steals. Later in the period, a layup from junior Chelsea Cross (Champaign, Ill.) cut the lead back to 11 and the UIS got the ball back after a Bellarmine turnover. On the next possession, Kelty drew a three-shot foul and converted all three foul shots to bring the Prairie Stars within eight, 57-49.

Another Bellarmine three pointer kick started another 7-0 run by the hosts that pushed its lead to 15, its largest of the night. The Knights iced the game away from the free throw line to win, 72-58.

Three Prairie Stars finished in double figures led by McHenry. Sophomore Shelbi Patterson (Indianapolis, Ind.) scored 13 points in the game and has now scored at least 10 points in all six of the team's games. Junior Chelsea Cross chipped in with 10 points.

UIS stays on the road to take on Southern Indiana on Saturday at 1 p.m.