HAMMOND, IN – The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) women's basketball team fended off Purdue University Northwest in an 80-72 victory during Saturday's grudge match.
 
UIS (4-1) picked up its second win of the season over Purdue Northwest (0-4). The Prairie Stars topped the Pride 79-73 on Nov. 10.
 
"I'm very proud of our effort on the road against a quality opponent that has played a tough schedule," UIS coach Mark Kost said.
 
Shelbi Patterson matched her career high of 22 points to lead the Prairie Stars. The 5-foot-9 senior guard from Indianapolis, IN converted 9-of-11 (81.8 percent) shots from the field.
 
"Shelbi played the best all-around game that I've seen in three seasons."
 
Purdue Northwest struggled with the UIS defense as the Pride committed 26 turnovers and was outscored 25-15 off turnovers. UIS came up with 16 steals The Prairie Stars turned the ball over 14 times.
 
Through one quarter, UIS led 17-15 as both teams remained within a possession the entire quarter. The first multi-possession came when the Prairie Stars took a 21-17 lead with 8 minutes, 13 seconds left in the second quarter. Purdue Northwest scores the next five points to take a 22-21 lead. The Prairie Stars responded with a 12-0 run to hold a 33-22 advantage with 4:06 left in the half. Purdue Northwest chipped away and only trailed the Prairie Stars 38-36 at halftime.
 
Val Meissner hit a 3-pointer to open the third quarter and put UIS up by five. The Pride hit a pair of baskets to cut their deficit to 41-40. Tehya Fortune and Meissner knocked down a pair of 3-pointers to pull ahead to a seven-point lead. UIS went on a 2:39 scoring drought, allowing the Pride to take a 48-47 lead. Both teams stayed within a possession of each other for the remainder of the quarter. UIS held a 57-55 lead with 10 minutes left in the contest.
 
The Prairie Stars were still able to remain competitive, even with Patterson fouling out with 5:33 left in the contest.
 
"Shelbi fouled out with over five minutes remaining and our team showed the poise to put the game away down the stretch."
 
Purdue Northwest's Shae Rhonehouse drained a 3-pointer with 1:49 left to cut the UIS lead to a 68-66 advantage. Jasmine Sangster made a layup and Rhonehouse missed the follow-up 3-pointer. With a four-point lead and possession of the ball, the Prairie Stars were able to control the remainder of the game. UIS outscored Purdue Northwest 10-6 in the final 1:01 and made 8-of-10 (80 percent) shots from the free-throw line.
 
Katelyn Rosner registered a career-high 12 rebounds and blocked four shots, leading UIS in both categories. Thirteen times in UIS Division II history has player delivered four blocks in a game and Rosner accounts for three of those performances. Fortune tallied 11 points and three steals. Meissner notched 10 points. The 5-foot-9 junior guard from Colgate, WI set career highs of five assists, four steals and three rebounds. Destiny Ramsey added 10 points and dished out four assists. Rosner, Sangster and Reje Pitchford each rounded out the UIS scoring with nine points apiece.
 
Pitchford's nine points is career best while Grace Weber earned a career high three rebounds. Patterson ranks seventh in UIS Division II history with 94 career offensive rebounds.
 
Rhonehouse recorded a game-high 24 points and three steals for the Pride. Lanie Allen produced 14 points and nine rebounds. Ellie Michalski put together a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Jessica Kiser also collected three steals.
 
UIS hit 28-of-75 (37.3 percent) shots from the field and 11-of-31 (35.5 percent) attempts from 3-point range. Purdue Northwest converted 28-of-63 (44.4 percent) shots from the floor and 5-of-17 (29.4 percent) attempts from the perimeter.
 
The Prairie Stars drained 13-of-17 (76.5 percent) attempts from the free-throw line while the Pride made 11-of-20 (55 percent) shots from the charity stripe.
 
Purdue Northwest outrebounded UIS by a 47-to-40 margin.
 
"We faced unbelievable adversity during this trip that usually causes teams to lose focus but we showed the maturity that it takes to focus on the task at hand."
 
UIS hosts Robert Morris University-Springfield (1-4) on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in TRAC. The Prairie Stars then clash with Missouri S&T (4-1) to open Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) action next Saturday at 1 p.m. in Rolla, MO.