UIS opened with a strong defensive presence, forcing Ferris State into seven turnovers and converting them into 11 points. The game remained scoreless until Molly Knight hit a basket 2:20 in after Julia Mingus regained possession. UIS took an early 5-4 lead after a three-pointer and continued to shoot efficiently. By the end of the quarter, Illinois Springfield led 20-10, having hit four of seven threes while Ferris State missed all five of theirs.
The second quarter saw a shift in momentum as Ferris State overcame the deficit to challenge the Prairie Stars. The Ferris State comeback included a layup by Mya Hiram and a three-pointer by Emma Schierbeek. The Prairie Stars struggled to maintain offensive pressure, converting just three field goals during the quarter. Both sides struggled with key shots as the fast pace and intense battle for the lead took its toll.
Despite strong efforts from the Prairie Stars, including a layup by Paula Strzelecki, Ferris State took advantage of defensive rebounds and fast-break opportunities. Molly Knight kept UIS in the game with key layups near the end of the half. Ferris State briefly held a 28-26 lead, but UIS responded to tie it, and the Prairie Stars defended FSU’s final possession effectively. The quarter ended with the score knotted at 28-28.
The third quarter began with the Prairie Stars responding to Ferris State’s early layup with a three-pointer by Kennedy Osterman, assisted by Molly Knight. Allysia McDaniel added a layup to the effort, maintaining a tight score. Ferris State capitalized on key turnovers to gain momentum, extending its lead to nine points. The Prairie Stars answered back with consecutive three-pointers from Libby Blythe, narrowing the gap and keeping the contest within reach. During a long scoreless stretch, Ferris State led 45-41, but UIS cut that lead to three points with two minutes to play in the third quarter. The quarter concluded with Ferris State leading 49-46 after a pair of free throws were made by both sides.
In the final quarter, the Prairie Stars made a strong push, with Kayla Rice hitting a key three-pointer at 8:19 to help close the gap. Molly Knight added another at 5:07, bringing the game within three points, but UIS struggled to contain Ferris State’s offense. Illinois Springfield recorded five steals in the quarter, showing fight late against the ranked opponent. However, Ferris State’s consistent scoring in the paint kept them in control, and the Bulldogs held on for a 73-64 victory despite late contributions from Kennedy Osterman.
Kayla Rice scored 12 points and collected six rebounds while adding two steals. Julia Mingus also tallied 12 points and recorded three steals. Molly Knight contributed nine points and led the squad with four assists.
“Ferris State is a top-25 team for a reason – they battled for all 40 minutes,” said head coach Olivia Birt. “I thought we showed resiliency and that we’re on the cusp of being where we want to be.”
Up Next
The Prairie Stars will face St. Francis (IL) at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday at TRAC.
