The University of Illinois Springfield women's basketball team slowed down one of the top offenses in the GLVC on Saturday in Kirksville, Mo. That helped the Prairie Stars earn an important road victory by a 60-46 margin over Truman State.
 
The Bulldogs came into the game averaging over 71 points a contest, which was third-best in the GLVC. The Prairie Stars held them to 25 points below their season average by limiting them to just 28.8 percent shooting from the field, and 25 percent from three-point range. UIS forced 17 turnovers and allowed just 11 free-throw attempts.
 
UIS was especially impressive against All-American Hannah Belanger, one of the GLVC's top players who came into the game averaging 18 points per game. The Prairie Stars held her scoreless on 0-for-10 shooting, and she turned the ball over five times. Lauren Ladowski started the game guarding her, but it was a team effort including Liz Uhl, Olivia Stephens, and Allie Gietzel all spending time on Belanger.
 
The Prairie Stars led at halftime by a 23-22 score after Ladowski made a layup at the buzzer. UIS then won the game in the third quarter when it outscored Truman by a 20-5 margin. Truman made just two-of-15 field goal in the period. UIS led by as many as 20 in the fourth quarter.
 
UIS struggled shooting from the field, but it made 22-of-26 free throws. It also turned the ball over just six times, its fewest total in its NCAA era. The Prairie Stars outscored Truman 13-6 in points off turnovers, and 26-18 in points in the paint.
 
Ladowski finished the game with 30 points, her third career game of 30 or more points. She had 21 in the second half, and finished the contest by making nine-of-19 from the field and 11-of-13 from the free-throw line. Ladowski also had team-highs of seven rebounds and two steals.
 
Gietzel finished with nine points, and Jalyn Harris came off the bench to score seven. Olivia Travis and Ellie Mitchell both had seven rebounds to tie Ladowski in that category.
 
UIS improves to 15-7 overall and 10-6 in GLVC play. The Prairie Stars return home on Thursday night for a contest against Southwest Baptist.