The University of Illinois Springfield women's basketball team used its defense and outside shooting to earn a victory on Thursday night at TRAC. The Prairie Stars defeated the McKendree Bearcats by a 68-58 score.
 
UIS had a 37-33 lead after 20 minutes, and the two teams were tied at 39 a few minutes into the third quarter. The Prairie Stars outscored the Bearcats 14-4 for the rest of the quarter, and then kept a double-digit lead for much of the fourth quarter.
 
The Prairie Stars held McKendree to just 25 points in the second half. McKendree shot 31.8 percent for the final 20 minutes, and it turned the ball over seven times. UIS shot 40.6 percent from the field for the game, and made a season-high 10 three-pointers in 21 attempts. UIS also had a +11 rebounding advantage in the game, and a 19-4 advantage in second-chance points.
 
Grace Weber had the best offensive game of her career. She was seven-of-14 from the field, made two three-pointers, and finished with a team-high 16 points. Weber led a balanced offensive effort in which seven players had at least six points. Lauren Ladowski finished with 10 points, one more than Ellie Mitchell, Malea Jackson, and Makenna Fee. Olivia Travis and Carson Vance each chipped in with six.
 
Fee had a team-high nine rebounds and two blocks. Ladowski finished with eight boards, and had team-highs with five assists and three steals. Jackson hit three three-pointers. Fee had a team-high +15 plus/minus, and Ladowski and Jackson were also in positive double-figures.
 
UIS improves to 5-5 on the season. The Prairie Stars will end their homestand on Saturday afternoon against nationally-ranked Southern Indiana.