Turnovers Prove Costly for Prairie Stars

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Senior Paulina Pogorzelski had a game and season-high 20 points, but the Illinois-Springfield women’s basketball team couldn’t overcome 27 turnovers in Thursday night’s 70-60 loss at Drury in the GLVC opener.

In the first half, UIS (3-2, 0-1) held a 10 point lead (27-17) with 3:37 left after a 10-2 run that was sparked by Pogorzelski. However, Drury (2-4, 1-0) answered right back and closed the period by going on a 7-2 run to bring the game within five at break.

During the opening 20 minutes, the Prairie Stars kept Drury’s offense off balance allowing them to shoot just 28 percent from the field (10-of-35) and 16 percent from outside (2-of-12). Keeping the game close were the Prairie Star turnovers, as UIS committed 15, which allowed the Panthers to score 16 points off of the miscues.

Opening the second half, the UIS and Drury contest was a back and forth battle with neither team holding a lead larger than two. With 11:48 left, the two clubs had their ninth tie, but shortly after Drury gave itself separation.

The Panthers built a double digit lead late (58-48), but UIS got its deficit down into single digits twice after a Pogorzelski and junior Cristina Nevins lay-up. The Prairie Stars though wouldn’t get any closer, as Drury’s Kassie Walker’s three closed the door for UIS.

Individually for UIS, freshman Megan Bergerud tallied 17 points and eight rebounds, while junior Bailey Beale added 11 points.

Up next for UIS is a Saturday afternoon GLVC battle with Missouri S&T beginning at 1:00