The University of Illinois Springfield women's basketball team has started GLVC play with a 3-1 record for the first time. The Prairie Stars achieved their best start in conference action with a 72-61 win over Missouri S&T on Sunday afternoon in Rolla, Mo.
 
UIS pulled away from the Miners late in the third quarter.  The Prairie Stars had a narrow 43-41 lead midway through the third, but went on a 11-2 run to end the period. All five of the team's field goals in that span came in the paint, and each shot came from a different player.
 
In the fourth quarter, two three-pointers by Malea Jackson and one by Ellie Mitchell helped prevent Missouri S&T from getting back into the game.
 
UIS's defense held the Miners to just 43.1 percent shooting from the field, including 23.1 percent shooting from three-point range. The Prairie Stars grabbed three more rebounds and scored 18 second-chance points off their 14 offensive rebounds.
 
Lauren Ladowski had a team-high 22 points, five rebounds, and three steals. She got to the free-throw line 12 times and converted eight into points. Mitchell had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Jackson and Liz Uhl had 15 and 11 points, respectively. Brianna Mefford also tied for the team-high with 10 rebounds.
 
UIS, which is also now 3-1 overall, will return to the court on Wednesday for a 5 p.m. game at Lindenwood.