KENOSHA, Wis. — The Parkside women's basketball team returns to DeSimone Arena on Tuesday for its final non-conference game of the season and of 2025, hosting Illinois Springfield at 5:30 p.m. CT as the front end of a doubleheader with the Parkside men's team to follow at 7:30 p.m. CT.

Parkside enters the week looking to snap a three-game skid and regroup after dropping its opening GLIAC weekend to No. 17 Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech. The Rangers are 4-5 overall and 0-2 in conference play, and will be back in action for the first time in 10 days.

In its most recent outing, Parkside fell at home to Michigan Tech, 65-60, in a game defined by perimeter efficiency and second-chance points. Tech built an early cushion by opening the game shooting 50% from the field and 67% from three in the first quarter, then closed the door by shooting 50% from the floor and 67% from deep in the fourth. The Huskies finished 41% from three (7-for-17) compared to Parkside's 19% (5-for-27), the biggest separator in a five-point game. Parkside stayed within striking distance behind 14 points each from Lexi Bugajski and Cassidy Arni, plus 12 points and seven assists from Peighton Nelson, but 18 turnovers and an 11-0 deficit in second-chance points limited comeback chances.

Through nine games, Parkside is averaging 62 points per game while shooting 40% from the field, 25% from three and 75% at the free-throw line, and holding opponents to 61 points per game on 37% shooting. Defensively, the Rangers have been active at the rim and on the glass, posting 4.8 blocks per game (best in the GLIAC) and 28.0 defensive rebounds per game (best in the GLIAC).

Individually, Nelson has been the distributor — she leads the GLIAC in assists per game at 4.6 and is second in total assists with 41, ranking inside the national top 25 in assists per game. Katie Hamill has been Parkside's top scoring option at 14.8 points per game (133 total points), while also ranking among GLIAC leaders in minutes (33.2 per game), field goals made (47), steals (2.3 per game; 21 total) and 3-point percentage (35%). Arni adds 13.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game (118 points, 56 rebounds) and ranks in the GLIAC top 10 in both scoring and rebounding, while Lillie Petersen is third in the conference in rebounds per game at 7.2 (65 total rebounds). Alli Hampel leads the GLIAC in total blocks with 10 (1.1 per game), anchoring the league's top shot-blocking team.

Tuesday, Dec. 16
Parkside vs. Illinois Springfield
5:30 p.m. CT | DeSimone Arena | Kenosha, Wis.

SCOUTING UIS:
Illinois Springfield comes to Kenosha at 4-6 overall and 1-3 in GLVC play, sitting 12th in the league standings early. The Prairie Stars are coming off an 87-76 home win over Roosevelt on Sunday, a game they controlled from the opening tip by building a 25-9 first-quarter lead and never trailing. UIS shot 53% from the field and 53% from three while forcing 19 Roosevelt turnovers that turned into 24 points, and also won the bench battle 24-17 while creating 15 fast-break points.

Season-long, UIS has leaned into pace, pressure and perimeter shooting. The Prairie Stars are averaging 69 points per game and are one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the country at 40.2% from deep (second nationally), while leading the GLVC in steals at 12.0 per game and forcing nearly 23 turnovers per game. They also sit second in the GLVC in bench points per game at 27.3. At the same time, UIS has had to win with offense and disruption — the Prairie Stars are allowing 69.1 points per game, and rank near the bottom of the GLVC in rebounding (31.2 per game).

On the perimeter, Kayla Rice is the headliner and a major matchup issue — she leads the GLVC in total steals and is third in steals per game at 2.6. Three Prairie Stars rank in the GLVC top 10 in 3-point percentage, led by Julia Mingus at 48.7% (11th nationally). Rice is third in the GLVC at 46.2% from three (22nd nationally), while Kennedy Osterman checks in at 40.0% (seventh in the GLVC; 55th nationally). Mingus is also third in the GLVC in free-throw percentage at 88.2%.