Box Score

Visiting Illinois-Springfield got a taste of the Great Lakes Valley Conference a year ahead of schedule after a 72-59 loss to the UW-Parkside women's basketball team Wednesday evening. The non-conference game was played in the DeSimone Gymnasium.

Illinois-Springfield, currently an NAIA school, will join NCAA Division II and the GLVC next season.

The game was plagued by turnovers. Each team had 16 turnovers at the half and combined for 51 for the game.

The Rangers had its first double digit lead of the game at 22-12 with 5:27 to go in the first half on a baseline jumper by Brittany Beyer. The Prairie Stars had its best run of the game closing out the second half, pulling the score to within 26-24.

Lakeshia Moore, who had 20 points in the game for the visitors, had 12 at the half including a 4-4 effort from the floor and 3-3 from behind the arc.

Amanda Gibson had her second consecutive 24-point game, equalling a career high, as the Rangers gradually pulled away in the second half. Gibson narrowly missed a double-double as she chalked up nine assists.

The biggest lead of the night for the Rangers was 17, in the late stages of the game.

Denise Mannella had 13 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Teammate Brittany Beyer added 11 points and 7 boards.

The win was the third consecutive for the Rangers, who are now 3-4. The Prairie Stars dropped to 1-7.