Illinois Springfield (14-14, 11-9 GLVC) defeated Rockhurst (7-19, 3-17 GLVC), 97-69, at Mason-Halpin Field House, dominating the boards with a 42-18 rebounding advantage. The victory was highlighted by the Prairie Stars' 16 steals, contributing to 36 points off turnovers. This week, UIS averaged an impressive 101 points per game over two road wins to conclude the regular season.

UIS opened the game with a strong offensive display, hitting five three-pointers in the first quarter. A key moment came when Kennedy Osterman sank back-to-back threes at 1:59 and 1:35, extending the lead to 23-10. These points were part of a milestone afternoon for Osterman, who surpassed 1,000 career points during the game. Despite a surge by Rockhurst, the Prairie Stars' early shooting advantage ensured a 23-17 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Osterman sparked the Prairie Stars in the second quarter by stealing the ball early and converting it into a fast-break layup, setting the tone for a strong stretch. Osterman continued her impact with a three-pointer and later assisted on a crucial Kayla Rice three-pointer at 1:30, helping maintain the team's momentum. The Prairie Stars also capitalized on turnovers, scoring nine points from Rockhurst's miscues, and outscored their opponent 22-17 in the period. The Prairie Stars held a 45-34 advantage at halftime.

UIS kept form in the third quarter with a series of key plays, including a three-pointer by Osterman at 9:21, assisted by Julia Mingus. The team effectively capitalized on opportunities, outscoring Rockhurst 11 field goals to 5 in the quarter. Despite turnovers, the Prairie Stars maintained momentum, with Rice contributing a critical three-pointer at 2:51, and later followed by a layup from Molly Knight at 1:42. The Prairie Stars closed the quarter on a strong note, extending their lead to 74-56.

The Prairie Stars closed out the road win with a strong fourth-quarter performance, beginning with a jumper from Rice at 8:19, extending the lead over Rockhurst. The Prairie Stars' defense was critical, forcing five turnovers, including crucial steals from Mingus and Osterman, which led to fast-break points. The game concluded with the Prairie Stars achieving a decisive victory, 97-69.

Osterman scored 28 points, collected nine rebounds, and recorded five steals. Mingus added 27 points, including six made threes, and matched Osterman with three steals. Rice contributed 11 points and three steals before fouling out. Knight tallied 10 points and dished out seven assists.

The GLVC postseason seeding was announced shortly after Saturday's conference games, with UIS narrowly missing the tournament field in ninth place.

"We had a strong weekend to finish the season on a good note," said head coach Olivia Birt. "The growth we made this season was huge and we'll be hungry to get into the tournament next year. Our two graduate seniors helped lay the groundwork for the future and bought into the idea of building something bigger than themselves."

The Prairie Stars finished the season at .500 overall and posted a winning mark in GLVC play (14-14 overall, 11-9 GLVC) — a nine-win improvement over the 2024-25 campaign. UIS closed the year strong with a pair of road victories at William Jewell and Rockhurst.