OAKLAND CITY, IN --- The Prairie Stars (4-3, 0-2) used a 33-point second quarter to blow out Oakland City 97-73 in a road win. UIS took a five-point lead after the first quarter and outscored the Mighty Oaks 33-to-9 in the second quarter to take control of the game and not look back.
Destiny Ramsey led the way for UIS with 19 points and eight rebounds while
Caroline Kelty and
Syerra Cunningham each notched double-doubles in the winning effort.
To begin the game, Oakland City jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead in the first two minutes, making their first three shot attempts of the night. After a jumper from
Shelbi Patterson put the Prairie Stars on the board after three minutes of play, UIS went on a 17-4 run to take a seven point lead, capped off by a three from Patterson.
Ramsey scored ten of the first 12 points for UIS in the second quarter as the Prairie Stars used an 8-0 run to begin the frame and continued that to an 18-2 run in the first five minutes to take a 37-16 lead. UIS took a 52-23 lead into the half after shooting 51.3 percent from the field. Ramsey and Patterson each made five shots from the field and were a perfect 9-for-9 from the charity stripe in the first half.
The Prairie Stars extended their lead to as much as 36 in the third quarter before easing their way to the 24-point victory. The 48.7 percent mark from the field was the Prairie Stars best mark of the season despite shooting just 3-of-11 from deep, tying their lowest three-point total of the year. UIS also made 20 free throws on the night, setting a season high in that regard as well. UIS brought down 52 rebounds on the night, the third time this season that they have eclipsed 50-rebounds.
Kelty notched her first double-double of the season with 17 points and a season high ten rebounds. The 17 points matches her season-high, which she set in her last game against Southern Indiana. Patterson matched her season-high with 18 points and also turned away three Oakland City shots.
Cunningham recorded her fifth double-double of the season and also had a season-high four blocks in the win.
UIS improves to 4-3 with the win and will return to the court next Sunday in the Kentucky Wesleyan Classic when they take on Trevecca Nazarene University at 3 PM before taking on the host school the following day at 1 PM.
