The University of Illinois Springfield women's basketball team had a big defensive effort in the fourth quarter to force overtime, and Grace Weber hit two keys shots in the extra period to give the Prairie Stars a 69-63 road win over Indianapolis on Thursday night.
 
The Prairie Stars trailed 29-23 at halftime, and cut that deficit to 45-41 after three quarters. UIS fell behind by six at 48-42, but didn't allow another point for over five minutes. UIS had taken the lead by that point, but Indianapolis tied the game with just under a minute to go. Malea Jackson put the Prairie Stars ahead, but Indianapolis answered on the other end and the game was extended five minutes.
 
In overtime, the score was tied with less than three minutes remaining when Weber hit a jumper to put UIS ahead 57-55. The Greyhounds missed a shot on the other end and Weber grabbed the rebound. She then scored again on offense to make it a two-possession game. After another defensive stop, Lauren Ladowski made the first two of six made free throws for UIS in the final minute that clinched the victory.
 
For the fourth quarter, the Prairie Stars' defense held Indianapolis to just 15.4 percent shooting from the field, and it forced four turnovers. UIS forced four more turnovers in overtime, and scored off each of those turnovers.
 
UIS finished the game forcing 25 turnovers, while turning it over themselves just 11 times. The final points off turnover totals were 28 for the Prairie Stars and eight for Indianapolis.
 
The duo of Ladowski and Jackson combined for 39 points in the game. Ladowski finished with team-highs of 21 points, eight rebounds, and five steals, and she was 11-of-15 from the free-throw line. Jackson knocked down four three-pointers, had six rebounds, three steals, and 18 total points. Weber finished with nine points. Ellie Mitchell had a team-high five assists, and she recorded three steals.
 
UIS moves to 6-6 on the year. The Prairie Stars will be off this weekend, and will take the court again next Tuesday at Lindenwood.