The University of Illinois Springfield women's basketball team clinched its best GLVC season in program history on Thursday night in Kansas City, Mo. Lauren Ladowski set a school record for career free throws, and led the Prairie Stars to a 61-56 victory over Rockhurst.
 
The win was the ninth of the season for UIS, all of them coming in GLVC action. The Prairie Stars had already set the program record for most GLVC wins in a season, and tonight guaranteed that they will also finish with the best winning percentage for a GLVC campaign.
 
The other history came from Ladowski who made 12-of-13 free throws on the night. She now has 371 in her career, breaking the school's record in that category. She has made over 100 free throws in each of her three seasons, and is shooting 80 percent from the free-throw line in her career.
 
Ladowski's record-tying free throw came early in the fourth-quarter on a three-point play. UIS led 42-41 after 30 minutes, and Ladowski's play put the Prairie Stars up by four. Rockhurst would get within one possession four times after that, but a different UIS player stepped up each time. Two free throws by Jalyn Harris, a layup from Olivia Travis, and a three-pointer by Ellie Mitchell all helped UIS keep the lead midway through the quarter. In the final minute, Ladowski added three more free throws, and, after the Hawks cut the lead to three, Malea Jackson sealed the win with a pair of free throws with one second remaining.
 
Besides Ladowski's record, the free-throw line was also the difference in the game. UIS made 26-of-27 from the line, compared to 13-of-18 for Rockhurst. UIS's defense held the Hawks to just 31.7 percent shooting, including 21.4 percent from three-point range. UIS also had 11 more rebounds in the game.
 
Ladowski finished with team-highs of 22 points, four assists, and two steals. Mitchell was in double-figure points with 11, and collected a +13 plus/minus. Makenna Fee finished with nine points and seven rebounds, and Jalyn Harris had a team-high nine rebounds.
 
UIS is now 9-9 on the season. It will look to hit double-figure wins on Saturday when it travels to Southwest Baptist for a 1 p.m. game.