SOMERS, Wis. -- After dropping tightly-contested games to the top two teams in the East Division of the Great Lakes Valley Conference last week, Wisconsin-Parkside returns home seeking to get back into the win column as it hosts Illinois Springfield on Thursday (Jan. 26) at 5:30 p.m. in DeSimone Gymnasium.

Wisconsin-Parkside lost at Southern Indiana 78-71 when a late rally fell short and dropped an 84-81 decision to Bellarmine when a potential game-tying three-pointer was off the mark. Southern Indiana and Bellarmine share the East Division lead with identical 8-1 marks in conference play.

The Rangers, who are 5-12 overall, currently sit in sixth position in the East Division, but the remainder of the schedule will provide for opportunities for Wisconsin-Parkside to move up in the standings.

Wisconsin-Parkside has played much better in its home arena where the Rangers have posted a 4-4 record, which includes wins in its last two GLVC contests. A majority of the better play can be attributed to the defensive end of the floor where the Rangers are allowing opponents just 60.5 points per game and permitting just 37.8 percent shooting from the floor. The Rangers are also forcing their opponents into 18.8 turnovers per game at home and are averaging 4.6 blocks per game.

Senior Brittney Fair, who has scored at least 20 points in three of the last four games, leads the Rangers averaging 13.8 points per game. Taylor Stephen tops the squad in assists and steals and is tied for second on the team averaging 6.4 points per game and is third on the squad averaging 4.0 rebounds per outing.

Kauri Jensen tops the Rangers averaging 4.7 rebounds per game, while Shelby Cheston averages 6.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per contest.

Illinois Springfield is 8-9 overall and 2-7 in conference play and has lost three of its last four games. The Prairie Stars lost home games to Saint Joseph's and Indianapolis last week and their last win came at McKendree on Jan. 16.

Syerra Cunningham and Destiny Ramsey share the team lead averaging 11.2 points per game for the Prairie Stars. Cunningham also tops the team averaging 10.7 rebounds per contest.

Wisconsin-Parkside leads the all-time series with Illinois Springfield 10-1.