SPRINGFIELD, IL --- Coming off two straight wins, the Prairie Stars (8-13, 2-11) were unable to continue their streak at the University of Missouri – St. Louis (9-12, 4-9), falling 61-53 on the road.
Syerra Cunningham recorded her second straight double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds, but the Prairie Stars were unable to find it from three and shot just 32 percent from the field.
In a back-and-forth opening quarter, the Prairie Stars took an early lead off a
Meredith Marti three, and then jumped ahead again with 1:31 remaining off a
Morgan Knorr jumper. At the end of the first quarter though, UIS was down two to the Tritons.
The Prairie Stars found themselves down by as much as five in the second quarter, but fought back to tie the game at 28-28 after a free throw from
Ashley McHenry and jumper from
Shelbi Patterson. Tying the game again at 31-31, UIS was never able to gain the lead and went into halftime down 33-31.
Continuing to fight, UIS hung around the third quarter, never letting UMSL pull away. The Tritons took a lead of four points, four different times, but the Prairie Stars responded with a basket each time, keeping it a one possession game and trialed by three going into the final quarter.
UMSL began the final quarter with a 6-0 run, pushing their lead to a game-high nine but UIS responded in-kind with a quick 5-0, culminating with a Cunningham jumper to bring the score to 49-45.
The Tritons once again brought the lead back to nine with 2:31 remaining but three straight free throws from
Michaela Jones followed by a layup and free throw from
Ashley McHenry brought the Prairie Stars within just three with 37 seconds remaining. UMSL closed the game by making 5-of-6 from the free throw line, nullifying any comeback attempt the Prairie Stars had.
Cunningham led the way with 10 points and 12 rebounds, while also blocking two shots. Jones and Patterson each had nine points on the night while Patterson added a team high four assists. McHenry filled the stat sheet with eight points, nine rebounds, a block, and two assists.
UIS will return home for their final home stand as they take on Drury on Thursday and Missouri S&T on Saturday.
