The University of Illinois Springfield women's basketball team ended its season on Saturday afternoon with an 82-79 loss to Missouri S&T. The Prairie Stars overcame a 12-point second-half deficit, but the Miners made a big shot in the final minute for the win.
 
UIS was down 54-42 at one point in the third quarter, and still trailed 61-52 at the end of that period. The Prairie Stars turned up their defensive pressure in the fourth, forcing eight turnovers in those 10 minutes. UIS eventually tied the game at 77 when Malea Jackson got a steal and fast-break layup with 59 seconds left. The Miners quickly got the ball down court and scored the go-ahead basket just six seconds later. Missouri S&T's defense did the rest, forcing two turnovers and a missed shot for a three-point win.
 
UIS shot just 34.7 percent from the field, and 18.8 percent from three-point range. Missouri S&T shot over 50 percent from the field. The Prairie Stars outrebounded the Miners 48-24, and had six fewer trunovers. UIS also went 24-of-32 from the free-throw line.
 
Malea Jackson tied a career-high with 26 points, and also had team-highs with three assists and three steals. She made 11-of-12 from the free-throw line for the game. Olivia Travis had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and she blocked two shots. Lauren Ladowski finished with 12 points and three assists. Makenna Fee just missed a double-double with nine points and a team-high 14 rebounds.
 
In her final game at UIS, Grace Weber had eight points, two assists, and two steals. She tied Travis with a team-high +10 plus/minus. Brianna Mefford had two points, three rebounds, and an assist in her final contest.
 
UIS ends the season with a 10-11 record. The Prairie Stars had their best conference mark since joining the GLVC, and their second-best winning percentage of their NCAA era.