The UIS women's basketball team opened the week with an impressive 75-49 win against William Jewell on Monday night and now turns its attention to two challenging GLVC matchups: a Youth Sports Day game versus McKendree on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and the Blue Out against Maryville on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at the TRAC.

Illinois Springfield (3-4, 1-1 GLVC)
UIS enters the weekend leading NCAA Division II in three-point field goal percentage at 45.4%. Graduate student Kennedy Osterman is pacing the Prairie Stars with 14.9 points per game, contributing to the team's impressive 46.9% from beyond the arc. Teammates Brynn Tabeling, Kayla Rice, and Julia Mingus also shoot above 45% individually, giving UIS one of the most dangerous perimeter offenses in NCAA DII.

Monday's win over William Jewell featured a dominant first quarter, with UIS jumping out to a 26-11 lead and holding the Cardinals to just six points in the second quarter. Jewell showed some improvement after halftime, but UIS maintained control and won its first GLVC home game by 26 points. Kayla Rice set a single-game program record with 11 steals, showcasing the Prairie Stars' defensive intensity.

Despite being picked 12th out of 15 teams in the GLVC preseason poll, UIS has key scorers to rely on this week. Osterman leads the GLVC in three-point percentage, followed closely by Kayla Rice, who averages 14.0 points per game. Julia Mingus adds 11.4 points per contest, providing consistent offensive support against tough opponents.

McKendree (3-2, 1-1 GLVC)
McKendree, a long-time rival of UIS, arrives at the TRAC after a 96-50 win over Rockhurst on Monday. The Bearcats opened GLVC play with a 64-49 loss at Maryville but bounced back in the Rockhurst game behind 20 points from Baylie Parks, four additional players scoring in double figures, and 16 made free throws.

McKendree leads the GLVC in scoring at 74 points per game, while UIS ranks fifth at 68.6. Parks ranks among the league's top-10 in rebounds (7.3 per game) and boasts a perfect free-throw percentage in GLVC play, making all 11 attempts. The Bearcats also excel in rebounding (43.6 per game, second in the GLVC) and steals (11.2 per game, third), though UIS leads the league in steals.

Maryville (5-1, 1-0 GLVC)
Maryville visits the TRAC for UIS's Blue Out on Saturday. The Saints began their season with a 64-49 home win against McKendree, highlighted by strong second- and third-quarter performances. Lindsey Schadewalt led the way with 17 points, helping Maryville maintain control throughout the game.

Schadewalt averages 14.2 points per game and is the Saints' three-point threat, while Claire Lueken adds 9.3 points per game. Alicia Burgos is a strong presence in the paint, shooting 51.7% from the field and grabbing 4.2 rebounds per game.

Follow Along
All UIS women's basketball games are streamed live on GLVCSN, with live stats available online.

Youth Sports Day Promotion
As part of Youth Sports Day on Thursday vs. McKendree, youth athletes 12 and under wearing their team's jersey get free admission to the game! Don't miss this chance to see UIS women's basketball in action and celebrate youth sports in Springfield.