SPRINGFIELD, IL – In the new three-division format, the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) women's basketball team was picked to finished third in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Central Division.
 
During last year's two-division format, UIS placed seventh in the East Division with an overall record of 9-17 and a conference record of 3-15. The Prairie Stars have their sights set on making this year's conference tournament.
 
"Our overall goal is to make the conference tournament, which is tougher than in the past with only eight teams qualifying this season," UIS coach Mark Kost said.
 
Last season, Drury University captured the GLVC regular-season title with a 17-1 conference record. The University of Southern Indiana (USI) finished with a 16-2 GLVC record to top the East Division. USI was knocked out of the GLVC Tournament with a 66-48 upset win by the University of Indianapolis in the quarterfinals. Drury fought off Lewis University by a score of 67-63 in the GLVC Tournament Championship.
 
Bellarmine University, Lewis and Drury each received a bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament. Drury reached the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship, before falling to the eventual national champion, Ashland University, in a 74-62 loss.
 
USI, Maryville University and Drury are the favorites to win the East, Central and West Divisions, respectively. Drury is ranked No. 7 in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) NCAA Division II preseason poll while Lewis is receiving votes in the national preseason poll.
 
GLVC PRESEASON POLL

EAST		CENTRAL		WEST
Rank/School	Points (1st)	Rank/School	Points (1st)	Rank/School	Points (1st)
1. Southern Indiana	54 (5)	1. Maryville	60 (6)	1. Drury	66 (13)
2. Lewis	51 (5)	2. Missouri-St. Louis	58 (8)	2. Truman State	52 (1)
3. Bellarmine	49 (3)	3. Illinois Springfield	37	3. Rockhurst	47
4. Indianapolis	48 (2)	4. McKendree	35	4. William Jewell	32
5. UW-Parkside*	18	5. Quincy	30 (1)	5. Missouri S&T	23 (1)

 
WHO'S WHO
The Prairie Stars graduated starters Syerra Cunningham and Caroline Kelty. Cunningham averaged 11.7 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.31 blocks last season. In UIS Division II history, Cunningham ranks first in career rebounds (740), first in career blocks (62), second in career field-goal percentage (.473) and third in career points (797). Kelty scored 9.2 points per game last season. Among UIS Division II career leaders, Kelty ranks fourth in steals (90), fourth in assists (136), sixth in rebounds (317) and seventh in points (586).
 
UIS returns 12-of-15 players from last season. Destiny Ramsey averaged 12.1 points, 1.23 blocks and shot 42.9 percent from the field last season. The senior forward from Bloomington, IL ranks third in UIS Division II history with 32 career blocks. Shelbi Patterson averaged 10.3 points last season. Among UIS Division II career leaders, Patterson ranks second in assists (239), third in steals (113), fourth in points (765), fourth in blocks (28) and seventh in rebounds (275). Tehya Fortune sank 49 3-pointers last season, which ranks sixth in UIS Division II history.
 
"All of our returners have the ability to make an impact this season.  For us to reach our goals, we must have some of our returners make the next step in their development.  For example, Destiny, Shelbi and Tehya must improve on their production in prior seasons."
 
Jasmine Sangster, Lanie Hicks, Katelyn Rosner, Chasitee Shroyer, Reje Pitchford, Airiana Smith, Erin Bolskar, Che Jones and Cheyanne Danner are all returning for the Prairie Stars.
 
"Others will take on new roles as starters or playing significant minutes.  How our players adapt to new roles will be a key to our success."
 
Val Meissner and Gabrielle Sanders join UIS as transfers while Grace Weber and Brianna Mefford join the Prairie Stars as freshman.
 
"Based on our early practices and exhibition games, all four of our newcomers can make contributions this season."
 
Meissner transferred from the NCAA Division II's Lake Superior State University, where she averaged 8.0 points and 4.5 assists last year. Sanders compiled averages of 2.9 points and 7.9 rebounds during her sophomore year at John A. Logan College.
 
"Val and Gabrielle are transfers that had previous success at the Division II and Junior College level."
 
Weber spent four seasons on the varsity team for Kettle Moraine High School in Wales, WI. Mefford competed for Lawrenceville High School for four seasons. In Lawrenceville school history, Mefford ranks first in career rebounds (1,196) and third in career points (1,405). Mefford also compiled a career field-goal percentage of 55.3 percent and recorded 230 blocks during a three-year stretch.
 
"Grace and Brianna are making the transition to college basketball and they have given the coaching staff confidence that they will be contributors this season."
 
WHAT'S HAPPENING LATELY
UIS began the season with two exhibition matchups against NCAA Division I opponents.
 
The Prairie Stars fell to Ball State University by a score of 92-42 last Wednesday. Ramsey contributed 13 points and Patterson scored 10 points.
 
Indiana State University earned a 72-46 win over the Prairie Stars last Sunday. Patterson notched 10 points to lead UIS.
 
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS
UIS is scheduled for two non-conference neutral-site matchups for the Lady Miner Classic in Rolla, MO. The Prairie Stars clash with Purdue University Northwest on Friday at 5:30 p.m. UIS closes out the classic by taking on LeMoyne-Owen College on Saturday at 4 p.m.
 
Purdue Northwest finished last season with a 24-9 overall record and qualified for the first round of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division II Tournament. The Pride made the transition to the NCAA Division II for the 2017-18 season. Purdue Northwest graduated three starters from last season. The Pride return Ellie Michalski, who averaged 9.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and shot 52.3 percent from the floor last season. Shae Rhonehouse also comes back to Purdue Northwest after averaging 11.5 points last season.
 
Le Moyne-Owen compiled an 8-22 record last year. The Magicians return starters Courtney Banks, Ariyan Hanes and Tenesha Wright.
 
The expectations for Purdue Northwest and LeMoyne-Owen are the same regardless of the teams' losses due to graduation.
 
"Purdue Northwest and Lemoyne-Owen have had transition on their roster due to graduation, but we still base our expectations on their style of play from last season. In the opening few games of the season, you have to be able to adjust because teams change based on new personnel.  Our focus will be on our execution and things we can control."
 
LOOKING AHEAD
UIS welcomes MacMurray College next Monday at 5:30 p.m. in TRAC. The Prairie Stars then host Lindenwood University next Saturday at 1 p.m. in TRAC.
 
KEYS TO SUCCESS
The Prairie Stars are looking for development and consistency to be successful this season.
 
"We have to accept our roles and continue to improve throughout the season.  We have seen improvement through our preseason practices and our exhibition games, but we have to have an improvement mindset once the regular season begins.  We cannot let an upcoming opponent or tough stretch of games, keep us from working on individual and team improvement.  We have to be willing to put in extra time so we are better individually and collectively in February than we are in November."
 
HOW TO FOLLOW
Friday Nov. 10 – UIS vs. Purdue Northwest (Live Stats)
Saturday Nov. 11 – UIS vs. LeMoyne-Owen (Live Stats)