The University of Illinois Springfield women's basketball team held a lead after three quarters on Saturday in Lebanon, Ill., but it couldn't hold on for the final 10 minutes as it fell to McKendree by a 73-60 score.
 
The Prairie Stars outscored the Bearcats 20-15 in the third quarter to turn a three-point halftime deficit into a two-point lead. McKendree, though, hit a three-pointer on the first possession of the fourth quarter, which sparked a 7-0 to start the period.
 
UIS got the score back within one at 56-55 with 6:33 remaining, and had a chance to take the lead. The Prairie Stars missed a shot, and on the other end, the Bearcats scored a three-point play. That led to an 11-0 run for McKendree which sealed the game.
 
The biggest difference in the contest came at the free-throw line, where McKendree went 22 times and missed just twice. UIS only had six free-throw attempts in the game. The Bearcats also had a 34-25 rebounding advantage, and scored 30 points inside the paint.
 
Val Meissner, Ellie Mitchell, and Katelyn Rosner all went six-for-12 from the field. Meissner had a team-high 15 points, Mitchell scored 14, and Rosner had 13. Mitchell and Brianna Mefford had team-highs with five rebounds, Mefford blocked two shots, and Tehya Fortune led the squad with three assists and two steals.
 
UIS falls to 7-17 overall and 4-12 in GLVC play. The Prairie Stars will be home next Thursday with a 5:30 p.m. game against Southern Indiana.