SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The University of Illinois Springfield women's basketball team fell into an early hole and never recovered, falling to the No. 19 Drury Panthers, 82-46, Thursday evening at the O'Reilly Event Center.

The Panthers opened the game on an 18-4 run and never looked back, shooting 59 percent from the floor in the period. Junior Jessica Warren (University Park, Ill.) scored the Prairie Stars' first two buckets of the game and had the visitors within one, 5-4, at the 18 minute-mark. Drury was on fire from the floor and took charge of the game, extending its lead to 30 going into halftime.

Warren led the Prairie Stars with eight points on 4-of-7 shooting in the game. She also added six rebounds. Junior Jameeshia Armstrong (Chicago, Ill.) scored seven points, snapping a three-game streak of double-figure scoring. Sophomore Syerra Cunningham (Beach Park, Ill.) pulled in a team-high nine rebounds.

In the second period the Prairie Stars shot a much better percentage (39.1) and converted three three-point shots. Drury outscored UIS 32-26 in the half, eventually winning 82-46.

Nine different players score for UIS. Drury narrowly won the rebounding battle, 35-33. The Prairie Stars' ten steals was the most against a conference opponent this season. Their season-high was 15 steals back in November against Concordia-Chicago.

UIS takes on Missouri S&T on Saturday at 1 p.m.