The University of Illinois Springfield women's basketball team had to overcome a double-figure deficit on Thursday night at TRAC, but was still able to pick up a GLVC win over Lewis. Ally Gietzel hit two free throws with 1.8 seconds remaining to give the Prairie Stars a 76-75 victory.
 
Lewis grabbed an early lead and nearly held it for the entire game. UIS trailed by as many as 12 in the first half, and had a 40-31 deficit at halftime. The Prairie Stars cut into all of that deficit except for one point in the third quarter.
 
In the fourth, the Flyers still hung on to their lead for the majority of the period. UIS finally took its first lead of the night though with 2:25 left when Lauren Ladowski hit a three-pointer to put the team up 72-70. UIS extended that lead to 74-70, before Lewis scored five straight to go back ahead with just 1.8 seconds left.
 
After the Flyers took the lead, UIS inbounded the ball at halfcourt. On the play, Ally Gietzel was held as she cut towards the basket, and a foul was called. Gietzel made both free throws for the game-winning points.
 
UIS won the game at the three-point and free-throw lines. Behind the arc, UIS made six-of-12 three-pointers, while it held Lewis to just five-of-22 shooting. The Prairie Stars also made eight more points at the free-throw line.
 
Lauren Ladowski led UIS with 20 points. She also had team-highs with four assists and two steals. Gietzel just missed a double-double with 19 points and nine rebounds. Malea Jackson had 15 points, and Ellie Mitchell collected 12. Liz Uhl had seven points off the bench. Uhl als had two steals, and Gietzel blocked a pair of shots.
 
UIS hit double-figure wins with the victory, as it is now 10-6 on the season. The Prairie Stars also moved to .500 in GLVC play. UIS returns home on Saturday afternoon when it hosts Indianapolis at 1 p.m.