SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The Prairie Stars (6-5, 0-3) fell to Truman State in the first game of the New Year by a score of 76-71. Syerra Cunningham recorded her seventh double-double of the season, scoring a team-high 20 points and grabbing a game-high 14 rebounds.

The two teams traded baskets in the opening quarter, before Truman opened up a 13-8 lead after a 5-0 run. UIS closed the gap to just one by the end of the quarter after Caroline Kelty hit two free throws to close the quarter.

Shelbi Patterson opened up the second stanza with a jumper to give UIS the lead and again, the two teams traded baskets until the Bulldogs hit three consecutive shots to take a 38-31 lead at the 4:24 mark. UIS trailed by just six at the half after Kelty again hit the final shot of the quarter.

Truman State opened up a ten-point lead with 3:46 remaining in the third quarter before a jumper by Jasmine Sangster hit a jumper followed by consecutive free throws from Cunningham. Truman extended their lead to eight after three quarters and then kept it there through the four-minute mark.

UIS then began a 7-0 run, sparked by five straight free throws and then a layup from Patterson. Down 65-62, the Prairie Stars fought all the way back to tie the game at 68 on two free throws from Destiny Ramsey and then tied the game again at 70 a possession later.

Truman closed the game on a 6-0 run though, hitting all four of their free throws in the final minute of the game. UIS had a chance to tie but the three-point attempt from Tehya Fortune rimmed out with six seconds remaining.

Along with her 20 points and 14 rebounds, Cunningham added three blocks and a steal to her line. She also ups her league leading rebounding mark to 12.0 boards per game and now leads UIS in points and rebounds. With her 14 rebounds tonight, she now inches closer to the all-time rebounding mark, sitting just 31 boards shy of the record.

Sangster added 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, hitting 2-of-4 from deep. Ramsey had a team-high four assists and added a block and six rebounds to her eight points.

UIS will welcome in Quincy on Saturday for a 1:00 pm tip before hitting the road next week to face William Jewell and Rockhurst.