Springfield, Ill. – The Parkside Rangers handled business on the road, defeating the Illinois-Springfield Prairie Stars 77-43 on Saturday. The Rangers controlled nearly all 40 minutes and had every active player score at least a point. In fact, they posted their best shooting performance of the season thus far, shooting the ball at a 58% clip from the field.

Inside the Box Score

• Peighton Nelson led all scorers with 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting.
• Kendal Zeiter filled up the stat sheet, recording six points, 11 rebounds, a career-high six assists, a steal, and two blocks.
• Alli Hampel notched a career-high 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting.
• Elyse Wendler scored her first collegiate point.

How It Happened
Sheridan Flauger began the game by knocking down her first three-pointer of the game, boosting Parkside to a 7-4 advantage. The Rangers never relinquished the lead, as Alli Hampel and Kendal Zeiter followed Flauger's make with a pair of layups. The game was physical under the basket, but the Rangers were stout, holding the Prairie Stars to just 4-of-21 shooting from the field in the first quarter. The Rangers ended the opening quarter on a 12-3 run, as Peighton Nelson began her big game with six quick points.

Parkside kept their foot on the gas in the second quarter, putting together their best offensive frame of the game. Seconds into the quarter, Jaelyn Derlein knocked down a triple and sparked the Rangers' offense. Parkside held Illinois-Springfield off the board for the first four and a half minutes of the quarter, opening up a 30-10 lead after an 11-0 stretch. Lillie Petersen, who finished with seven points and seven rebounds, joined in on the scoring, connecting on her first triple of the game midway through the quarter. Derlein capped the big quarter with her second three-pointer. Parkside outscored Illinois-Springfield 22-9 in the second quarter, taking a commanding 41-19 lead into the halftime break.

Nothing changed in the second half as Parkside maintained their momentum. They scored at least 17 points in each quarter, remaining consistent on the offensive attack. They posted a 19-point third quarter and a 17-point fourth quarter. In the third, Nelson was left open for three and nailed her second triple of the season, joining a group of five players that hit a three. Elyse Wendler scored her first collegiate point on a free throw late in the third. Additionally, Hampel secured a new career-high in points, reaching that mark early in the fourth quarter after 26 physical minutes of basketball.

Parkside shot 30-of-55 from the field and 7-of-17 from beyond the arc, marking their best overall shooting performance of the season. Defensively, it was also their best effort, as they held Illinois-Springfield to just 43 points, the fewest points allowed since Jan. 18, 2024, against Michigan Tech at home. Parkside is now 6-3 on the season with an impressive 6-1 record on the road.

Next
The Rangers will play just one more time before the new year, as they are slated to play in an exhibition against Green Bay next weekend. Tip is set for 1 p.m. in the Kress Center. For coverage of the event, visit ParksideRangers.com/coverage.