Box Score The University of Illinois Springfield women's basketball team used a big fourth quarter to defeat Purdue Northwest on Saturday in Hammond, Ind. The Prairie Stars won their first road game of the season by a 68-59 margin.
 
The two teams were tied at 47 after three quarters, and Purdue Northwest hit a three-pointer just 28 seconds into the final period. UIS responded with a 9-0 run to go up for good. Katelyn Rosner tied the game with a three-point play, and the Prairie Stars made six straight free throws in the run.
 
The Pride got within three at 60-57 with 1:54 remaining. Lauren Ladowski came down and hit a shot in the lane late in the shot clock to make it a two possession game again. After several defensive stops, UIS then sealed the game at the free-throw line.
 
UIS finished the game making 27-of-30 free throws, including 20-of-21 in the second half. Purdue Northwest made just five free throws in nine attempts in the game.
 
Ladowski finished the game with a team-high 17 points, including eight in the final quarter, and Malea Jackson had 11. Katelyn Rosner and Tehya Fortune each had nine, and Airiana Smith finished with seven. Makenna Fee had a team-high 11 rebounds. Fortune led the team with four assists, and Ladowski had three steals.
 
UIS improves to 4-1 on the season. The Prairie Stars are in action at home on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. against Kentucky State.