Truman State University capitalized on two free throws with 3.4 seconds remaining to edge the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) women's basketball team in a 72-70 victory during Thursday's Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) matchup at Kirksville, Mo.
 
The Bulldogs (16-3, 7-2) opened up with a 10-3 lead and held a 24-15 advantage after the first quarter. Truman State carried a 41-34 lead into the halftime.
 
The Bulldogs scored the first seven points of the third quarter to extend their lead to 48-34 with 8 minutes, 16 seconds left in the third quarter. UIS (5-11, 2-6) rattled off an 18-4 run to even the score at 52-all by the end of the third quarter. The Prairie Stars delivered the final 11 points of the quarter to close out the run.
 
UIS took a 55-54 lead with 7:37 in the game, following a layup from Lauren Ladowski. Truman State regained the lead when Rachel Edmundson drained a 3-pointer. Brianna Mefford even the score at 57-all with a basket. The Bulldogs built a 66-59 lead with 4:07 remaining. UIS responded with the next eight points. Jasmine Sangster capped off the run with a pair of free throws to take a 67-66 lead. On the next possession, Sloane Totta fed Katie Jaseckas for a layup to pull ahead 68-67. As UIS was looking to take the lead, Sangster was fouled on the drive, but Truman State had a foul to give. The Prairie Stars were unable to score on the inbound.
 
Totta was fouled and drained both free throws to put the Bulldogs ahead by three. Fortune responded by knocking down a clutch 3-pointer for the Prairie Stars to even the score at 70-all with 13 seconds remaining. Totta was fouled on her way to the bucket with 3.4 seconds remaining She made both of her free-throw attempts and gave Truman State. UIS had one opportunity to score on the final possession, but was unable to create a scoring opportunity against Truman State's physical defense. The Bulldogs are receiving votes in the latest Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) NCAA Division II poll.
 
"We had a great effort against one of the top teams in our league," UIS coach Mark Kost said. "We had contributions from many players."
 
Fortune led the way with 18 points. Ladowski and Sangster each contributed 13 points as the pair dished out five assists and four assists, respectively. Val Meissner provided 12 points and four assists. Mefford turned in six points while Ellie Mitchell and Lanie Hicks scored three points apiece. Katelyn Rosner rounded out the UIS scoring effort with two points. Rosner notched team-highs of nine rebounds and two blocks. Mitchell also pulled down eight rebounds.
 
Edmundson paced the Bulldogs with 16 points. Brooke Bailey recorded 14 points while Totta and Jaseckas produced 13 points each. Makenzie Bray collected a team-high nine rebounds.
 
Truman State was limited to 10 turnovers. The Bulldogs outscored the Prairie Stars 18-12 on fast-break points and 14-10 off turnovers. UIS committed 15 turnovers.
 
The Bulldogs drained 20-of-22 (90.9 percent) shots from the free-throw line while the Prairie Stars made 9-of-15 (60 percent) attempts from the charity stripe.
 
UIS converted 25-of-58 (43.1 percent) shots from the field and 11-of-23 (47.8 percent) attempts from 3-point range. Truman State hit 22-of-57 (38.6 percent) attempts from the floor and 8-of-24 (33.3 percent) shots from the perimeter.
 
The Prairie Stars outrebounded the Bulldogs 38-33 and held a 10-9 advantage in second-chance points.
 
"We showed poise and put ourselves in a position to win. We need to sustain this going forward."
 
UIS goes head-to-head with Quincy University (5-13, 3-6) in a GLVC matchup on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Quincy.