SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The Prairie Stars will tip-off their 2016-17 season at the GLVC/GLIAC Challenge held in Hillsdale, Michigan as they take on Lake Superior State and Hillsdale College. Illinois Springfield will meet Lake Superior State on Friday at 7 pm before facing off against host school Hillsdale at 6 pm on Saturday.

SETTING THE SCENE
UIS posted an 8-18, 2-16 mark in the 2015-16 season in the first year under head coach, Mark Kost. The Prairie Stars opened the year at this same tournament, falling to Hillsdale in the opener 75-57 before beating Lake Superior State 60-45.

Hillsdale was 10-16 last season and returns four of its starters. Like the Prairie Stars, the Chargers are under the direction of a 2^nd year head coach, Todd Mitmesser. The Chargers were picked to finish fifth in the GLIAC South Division.

Lake Superior State finished last season with a 5-23 mark overall and 4-18 record in GLIAC play. The Lakers return eight players from last year's squad and bring in six freshmen for the new season.

STAR RETURNERS
The Prairie Stars return six players from the 2015-16 squad, including Third-Team All-GLVC selection Shelbi Patterson. Along with Patterson, Syerra Cunningham returns in the middle, after her breakout second half of the season last year. In the final eight games, Cunningham recorded six double-doubles and had at least 11 rebounds in each of the final eight games.

Cunningham returns to the Prairie Stars after averaging the second most rebounds in the GLVC last season. The senior brought down 9.3 rebounds per game last season, second only to the GLVC Player of the Year.

Caroline Kelty, the second senior on this year's team returns after putting up the second most points, steals, and assists on last year's  team.

Patterson returns to UIS after leading the team in points per game (10.1), steals (44), assists (78), and field goals (113).

NEW FACES MAKING AN IMPACT
In the first game in a Prairie Star uniform, seven new faces for UIS made their impact felt against the Northwestern Wildcats. Jasmine Sangster, a freshman from Round Lake, Illinois, scored a team-high 15 points for UIS, making 4-of-5 from deep.

Tehya Fortune filled the stat sheet with four points, three rebounds, four assists, a block, and a steal. Katelyn Rosner tallied eight points and five rebounds while Reje Pitchford dished out a game-high six assists.

A LOOK AT THE BOOKS
After two seasons, Patterson sits 14^th on the all-time scoring list with 517 career points. She scored 262 points last season, which with a repeat effort would put her fifth all-time after the season. Cunningham currently sits in second on the all-time rebounding watch with 462 career boards. With 243 last season, she sits 163 behind Elizabeth Kelly for the all-time record.

SCOUTING HILLSDALE
The Chargers bring back four of their top five scorers from last season including their top scorer, Makenna Ott who averaged 9.3 points per game. Allie Dittner also returns, who led the team with 7.1 rebounds per game. The Chargers averaged 66 points per game last season and surrendered just under 70.

SCOUTING LAKE SUPERIOR STATE
The Lakers return their top-four scorers from the 2015-16 season, two of which were just freshman. Mackenzie Edwards leads the way for the Lakers, averaging 14.5 points per game last year and a team-high 4.5 rebounds. Tamara Novic averaged 4.4 rebounds per game and returns as a junior this season.

As a team, the Lakers averaged just 53.2 points per game while surrendering 65.1.

MEDIA CENTRAL
Follow along:
Live Stats vs. Lake Superior State
Live Stats vs. Hillsdale
Find out more: Game Notes

COMING UP NEXT
The Prairie Stars will play their home opener on Wednesday, November 16^th against Robert Morris – Springfield. Tip-off is set for 5:00 pm. UIS held a record of 5-8 last season on its home court.