SPRINGFIELD, IL --- UIS (8-17, 2-15)  will conclude the 2016-17 season on Thursday night when they host McKendree University. This will also serve as senior night as UIS will recognize the two seniors on this years team: Syerra Cunningham and Caroline Kelty. 
 
SETTING THE SCENE
Illinois Springfield is now at the end of conference play for the 2016-2017 season and is looking to add another conference win to their record, which will eclipse their total win total and conference win total from a year ago. UIS looks to snap a current 10-game slide, as they look to beat the Bearcats for the second straight time. 
 
The Prairie Stars will be honoring their only two seniors on the squad this year: F Syerra Cunningham (PPG. 11.6, Reb. 10.8) and G Caroline Kelty (ppg. 9.0).  The two seniors have played in all 25 games this season and have made 43 starts.
 
McKendree will enter the week currently on a nine game losing-streak. The Bearcats last win came in late January against Saint Joseph's College. They won at home against the Pumas 63-54.
 
GLVC RANKINGS --- TEAM
Scoring offense – 8^th – 66.2
FG percentage defense – 6^th – 39.0
Offensive rebounds – 2^nd – 15.0
Defensive rebounds – 6^th – 25.7
Blocked shots – 3^rd – 4.46
Assists – 5^th – 13.27
 
GLVC RANKINGS --- INDIVIDUAL
Syerra Cunningham
                        Rebounds – 1^st – 11.1
                        Blocked shots – 5^th – 1.2
                    
Destiny Ramsey
                        Scoring – 21st – 11.8
                        Blocked shots – 6^th – 1.2
                        Steals – 13^th – 1.7
                        Rebounds – 16^th – 5.8

Shelbi Patterson
                        Minutes Played – 7^th – 32.0
                        Steals – 17^th – 1.4
 
THE STARTING FIVE
The starting five of Tehya Fortune, Caroline Kelty, Shelbi Patterson, Destiny Ramsey, and Syerra Cunningham have played in all 25 games and that starting five has started in 18 games. 
 
A CLOSE SHOT
The Prairie Stars have a total of 12 games that have been decided by 10 points or less and are 2-10 in those games. Nine of those games have been in conference play and UIS is 1-8 in those such games.
 
THE LAST TIME…
The last time these two teams met was on the road January 16^th in Lebanon, Illinois. UIS was trailing by seven going into the half and trailed by as much as ten in the second half but a 22-4 run put the Prairie Stars ahead for good. Illinois Springfield kept the lead and went on to defeat the Bearcats 59-53 behind 19 points and 16 boards by Syerra Cunningham.
 
UIS is 4-5 against McKendree University in the all-time head to head to match-up.
 
MCKENDREE NOTES
The Bearcats are ranked fourth to last in the league with a -2.3 scoring margin, and last in scoring offense in the GLVC with an average of 57.8 a game. McKendree does not have one player averaging in double-figures for points per game, Jordan Hebeg, is the leading scorer who puts in 7.7 points per game.
 
McKendree is a very good rebounding team, and are ranked 4^th in the conference in offensive rebounds with 38.7 per game, and ranked 2^nd in defensive rebounds with 32.0 per game. The Bearcats are ranked last in the GLVC in turnover margin with -4.67.