SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The Prairie Stars (8-17, 2-15) played a great second half, but couldn't stay with the #25 ranked Bellarmine Knights falling 73-53, as four seniors were celebrated on senior day. Syerra Cunningham continued her monster second half with a 22 point, 16 rebound performance that included eight offensive rebounds. Meredith Marti continued her record setting three point campaign, with five more, en route to a 17-point game.

The Prairie Stars took an early lead but the Knights offense came right back with a 9-2 run to take a 13-6 lead. Marti closed the quarter with a three to cut the deficit to 13-9.

UIS would be stuck on nine points for the first six and a half minutes of the second quarter, not scoring until the 3:30 mark on a layup from Chasitee Shroyer. The following possession, Shroyer picked up a steal and another fast break layup for four straight points and preceded another Marti three t cut the deficit to 27-16.
At the half, UIS trailed 31-17 but picked up some momentum late in the quarter with eight points in the final three minutes.

In the third quarter, Bellarmine extended their lead to as much as 23 late in the quarter, but the Prairie Stars responded with a 10-2 run, which included five points from Cunningham and five from Marti as they each connected with two free throws.

A three-point play from Ashley McHenry cut the gap to just ten with over nine minutes to play, but the Bellarmine offense was too much as they pushed the lead back to 21 over time to pick up their 20^th win of the season.

Cunningham led all scorers and all rebounders with her 22 point 16 rebound performance and was her eighth double-double of the season and fifth in a row. It is her second game this season with at least 20 points and 15 rebounds and she is the only Prairie Star to accomplish the feat. Cunningham now has 229 rebounds on the season, and is one of two players to eclipse 200 rebounds. She also has 99 offensive boards, 19 more than the next best player.

Marti connected on five three's for the second straight game, giving her 66 on the season and putting her third in the GLVC in that category.  

The Prairie Stars recognized four seniors after the game: Meredith Marti, Ashley McHenry, Morgan Knorr, and Leslie Hairston. UIS will close out their season next Thursday as they travel to McKendree for a 5:30 pm tip-off.