SPRINGFIELD, IL – The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) prepares the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) and Quincy University in Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) play this weekend.
 
SETTING THE SCENE
UIS (8-4, 2-2) welcomes UMSL (7-4, 1-3) on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in TRAC. The Prairie Stars then quarrel with Quincy (5-9, 1-4) on Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
LOOKING BACK
UMSL fended off UIS in a 77-73 victory last season. The Prairie Stars cruised to an 82-53 win over Quincy last year.
 
During the 2016-17 season, UIS finished seventh in the East Division with a 3-15 conference record. UMSL tied for third in the West Division and posted a 10-8 GLVC record. Quincy turned in a 2-16 conference record and finished eighth in the West Division.
 
WHAT'S HAPPENING LATELY
Lewis University (11-4, 4-1) powered to an 82-59 victory over the Prairie Stars last Thursday. McKendree University (5-6, 1-3) jumped out to an early lead and sealed a 79-72 win over UIS last Saturday.
 
The University of Southern Indiana (11-2, 3-1) fought off the Tritons in a 70-65 GLVC victory last Thursday. Southern Indiana is ranked No. 22 in the latest Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) NCAA Division II poll.
 
Quincy went 1-1 in conference play last week. The University of Indianapolis (5-10, 2-3) used a strong fourth quarter to break away from the Hawks in a 75-69 win on Thursday. Quincy netted 23 points in the fourth quarter to pull away from Maryville University (4-7, 1-4) in a 67-58 victory on Saturday.
 
KEY DECISIONS
UIS topped Rockhurst University (6-7, 2-3) in a back-and-forth battle by a score of 68-63 on Dec. 7. Rockhurst recorded a 68-48 win over Quincy on Nov. 30.
 
STARS OF NOTE
Destiny Ramsey and Shelbi Patterson both average a team-high 13.2 points. Among GLVC leaders, Ramsey ranks third in blocks (1.7) and fifth in rebounds (7.6). The 6-foot senior forward from Bloomington, IL also has recorded 2.8 offensive rebounds per game and 4.8 defensive rebounds per game. Patterson has blocked 0.8 shots per game.
 
Katelyn Rosner leads the conference and ranks T-25 among NCAA Division II leaders with 2.33 blocks per game. The 6-foot-2 sophomore center from Chicago, IL ranks fifth in the conference with 5.3 defensive rebounds per game. Rosner has also tallied 7.4 rebounds per game.
 
Jasmine Sangster has hit 47-of-55 (85.5 percent) of her free throws, which is tied for fourth in the GLVC. Tehya Fortune has drained 29-of-37 (78.4 percent) shots from the charity stripe.
 
UIS TEAM STATS
UIS leads the nation with 7.1 blocks per game. The Prairie Stars turn the ball over just 12.3 times per game, which is the fewest in the conference and 10th-fewest in the nation. UIS also leads the conference in rebounds (42.6), defensive rebounds (28.0), turnover margin (+6.67) and assist-turnover ratio (1.2). Among GLVC leaders, the Prairie Stars ranks second in points (75.7), field-goal percentage defense (.364), 3-point field-goal percentage defense (.274) and offensive rebounds (14.6).
 
SHOOTING AND DEFENDING THE THREE
UIS will use its strong defense to counter the 3-point attacks from UMSL and Quincy.
 
UMSL leads the conference in 3-point field-goal percentage (.368). Sammie Sproul ranks second in the GLVC in makes (2.7), while draining 44.1 percent (30-of-68) of her shots from the perimeter. Arielle Jackson also averages 2.1 makes from behind the arc.
 
Quincy's Jessie Rabas has converted 34-of-65 (52.3 percent) of her shots from downtown, which leads the nation. As a team, the Hawks rank second in the conference in 3-point field-goal percentage (.366) and 3-point field goals made (7.9). Raba ranks fifth in the GLVC with 2.3 makes per game from behind the arc while Anika Webster also averages 1.6 makes from downtown. Taylor Hickey has drained 13-of-36 (36.1 percent) shots from the perimeter.
 
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS
Shawnta Johnson leads the Tritons with 12.8 points per game. She has dished out 4.2 assists per game, which ranks third in the GLVC. Johnson has turned in averages of 6.4 rebounds, 4.0 defensive rebounds, 2.4 offensive rebounds. She has also contributed a 1.1 assist-turnover ratio and has sank 53-of-112 (47.3 percent) shots from the field.
 
Alex LaPorta leads the GLVC in rebounds (10.1), offensive rebounds (3.6) and defensive rebounds (6.5). She has hit 40-of-81 (49.4 percent) shots from the floor.
 
Jordan Fletcher has made 43-of-91 (47.3 percent) shots from the field. She has recorded averages of 10.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.6 offensive rebounds and 1.2 blocks. Jackson has turned in averages of 12.5 points and 2.8 assists while Sproul has posted averages of 10.6 points and 2.0 steals.
 
UMSL leads the conference offensive rebounds (14.8) and rebounding margin (+5.7). The Tritons rank second in the GLVC in rebounds (39.9) and points allowed (58.6).
 
Webster leads Quincy with 16.4 points per game, which ranks fifth in the GLVC. She has sunk 52-of-65 (80 percent) freebies.
 
Michaela Gronewold leads the conference and ranks T-23 in the nation with a 2.22 assist-turnover ratio. She has also provided an average of 3.6 dimes, which ranks fifth in the conference.
 
Alexa Low ranks fifth in the conference in blocking (1.5). She has also contributed 4.0 defensive rebounds per game.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
The Prairie Stars host McKendree next Monday at 5:30 p.m. in TRAC. UIS then travels to St. Louis, MO to face off with Maryville next Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
UIS DIVISION II RECORD BOOK WATCH
Rosner ranks fourth for most blocks (28) in a single season. Among career leaders, Patterson ranks second in field goals made (371), second in assists (267), third in points (923), third in steals (130), T-4 in 3-point field goals made (68), fifth in free throws made (113), fifth in defensive rebounds (233) and fifth in blocks (38). Ramsey ranks third with 52 career blocks while Rosner ranks fourth with 51 career blocks.
 
HOW TO WATCH
Thursday, Jan. 11 – UMSL at UIS (Live Stats) (Live Video)
Saturday, Jan. 13 – UIS at Quincy (Live Stats) (Live Video)