The University of Illinois Springfield women's basketball team put a scare into the number one team in NCAA Division II on Thursday night at TRAC. Drury staged a second-half comeback though and defeated the Prairie Stars by a 65-54 score.
 
In the first half, everything went UIS's way as it built a 39-26 lead. It shot 55.2 percent from the field while holding Drury to just 25.7 percent shooting. Drury led for just one possession, and UIS led by as many as 15 in the half.
 
The second half was a complete opposite though as the Panthers turned the table. Drury made half of their field-goal attempts in the final 20 minutes, while the Prairie Stars went cold from the field by making just three field goals in that span. UIS had a three-point lead after the third quarter, and kept it until Drury tied it at 48 with 6:14 remaining. The Panthers outscored UIS by a 21-7 margin in the fourth quarter to escape TRAC with the victory.
 
UIS won the rebounding battle 43-37, but Drury forced 10 more turnovers in the game. Drury also blocked seven shots, including six in the final half. The Panthers had a 27-11 advantage in points off turnovers, and it scored eight more points in the paint.
 
Malea Jackson led the Prairie Stars offense with 16 points, followed by Lauren Ladowski with 15. Jaylyn Harris had team-highs with 10 rebounds and two steals. Ellie Mitchell finished with six points, nine rebounds, and a team-high three assists. Ally Gietzel had eight points in the game.
 
UIS falls to 7-3 overall and 2-2 in the GLVC. The Prairie Stars are off until next Thursday when they travel to Lindenwood.