The University of Illinois Springfield women's basketball team dropped its first contest of the 2019-20 season on Tuesday night TRAC. The Prairie Stars fell to Kentucky Wesleyan by a score of 77-66.
 
Kentucky Wesleyan's pressured bothered UIS early as it had four turnovers in the early part of the game, helping the Panthers grab a 7-0 lead. UIS cut the lead down to two a couple of times in the first quarter, but Kentucky Wesleyan led 23-16 after the first quarter, and 41-33 at halftime.
 
UIS was down by as much as 19 late in the third quarter, but got hot from the field in the fourth to start a comeback attempt. The Prairie Stars made their first six field goals in the fourth, and got within six at 67-61. Kentucky Wesleyan rolled off six straight though at that point, and it led by double-figures the rest of the way.
 
Both teams made seven three-pointers in the game, but UIS needed just 16 attempts, while Kentucky Wesleyan had 31 shots on the night. UIS also scored seven more points at the free-throw line. The Panthers, though, attempted 20 more field goals, and made nine more, which proved to be the difference. Kentucky Wesleyan had a +8 rebounding margin and a +10 turnover margin for the night.
 
Lauren Ladowski led the team with 18 points, one more than Malea Jackson. Tehya Fortune was the third player in double-figures with 10. Ladowski also had a team-high seven rebounds, and tied with Fortune with four assists. Jackson hit three three-pointers, and Fortune had a pair.
 
UIS goes to 3-1 on the season with the loss. The Prairie Stars are in action again on Saturday afternoon at Purdue Northwest.