Illinois Springfield women's basketball picked up its first win of the season on Tuesday night, defeating Purdue Northwest 85-75 behind a dominant third quarter. The Prairie Stars outscored the Pride 25-16 in the frame and turned 17 Purdue Northwest turnovers into 27 points in the full game.
"It's tough to win midweek games on the road, but we played together and brought great energy tonight," head coach Olivia Birt said. "Our goal is to keep getting better every day, and today we did that."
UIS set the tone early when Kennedy Osterman knocked down a three just 22 seconds into the game. Molly Knight followed with a layup to stretch the early lead. After Purdue Northwest briefly tied the game, the Stars answered with a triple from Libby Blythe to regain control. UIS led 16-11 after the first quarter.
The Stars pushed the lead to double digits early in the second, highlighted by another Osterman three and two free throws from Knight to make it 24-11. Purdue Northwest stayed within reach, but UIS continued to find answers on the offensive end. Brooke Spychalski's three-pointer helped maintain the cushion, and UIS entered halftime ahead 41-36.
Illinois Springfield delivered its best stretch of the night in the third quarter, opening with a 9-0 run sparked by an Allysia McDaniel steal and subsequent layup. Kayla Rice added a three off an Osterman assist as UIS shot a blistering 10-for-12 in the period and handed out six assists. The Stars took a 66-52 lead into the fourth.
Purdue Northwest made several pushes in the final quarter, but UIS never lost control. Rice started the frame with a jumper, and Julia Mingus converted a steal and three-point play to give the Stars a 19-point edge. UIS continued to capitalize at the free-throw line and closed out the game despite a late PNW surge.
Four Prairie Stars scored in double figures. Allysia McDaniel posted a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Mingus added 13 points, two threes, and three steals. Rice contributed 11 points and a team-high six assists, while Osterman finished with 12 points and four threes.
UIS moves to 1-2 overall. Purdue Northwest also sits at 12 on the season.
Up Next
UIS prepares for Saturday's home opener versus Ferris State, scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at TRAC.
