KENOSHA, Wis. – Behind a statement-opening quarter and a career night from junior Jaelyn Derlein, the Parkside women's basketball team hung on to close the 2025 calendar year with an 81-72 non-conference win over Illinois-Springfield on Tuesday inside De Simone Arena.
Parkside (5-5) snapped a three-game losing streak by erupting for 33 first-quarter points and never trailing, even as UIS (4-7) chipped away through an uneven middle stretch.
Derlein knocked down a career-high six 3-pointers and finished with a career-best 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting from deep off the bench, providing a spark every time the Prairie Stars threatened to climb back into it. Cassidy Arni led Parkside with 23 points on 7-of-10 shooting and 8-of-9 at the line, adding six rebounds, four assists and three steals in a complete all-around effort. Katie Hamill chipped in 13 points and six assists, while Alli Hampel and Peighton Nelson added nine points apiece.
Parkside set the tone immediately, holding UIS without a field goal for the first several minutes while piling up points at the other end. The Rangers opened the game on an 8-0 burst and stretched the margin to 15 by the end of the first quarter, shooting 9-of-13 (69%) and a perfect 4-of-4 from 3-point range in the period.
The first half wasn't pretty after that opening punch. Parkside scored 13 points in the second quarter, while UIS settled in and started to win possessions with extra chances and trips to the foul line. Still, the Rangers carried a 46-34 lead into halftime.
UIS continued its climb in the third, outscoring Parkside 20-14 to trim the deficit to 61-54. Kayla Rice helped fuel the Prairie Stars with a game-high 29 points on 8-of-16 shooting and 10-of-10 at the free-throw line, while Libby Blythe added 19 points and five rebounds off the bench. Illinois Springfield shot 8-of-17 (47%) in the third quarter and pulled within single digits heading to the fourth.
Parkside answered in the final period with timely shot-making - including back-to-back 3s from Derlein - and enough stops to hold the Prairie Stars at bay. The Rangers finished the night at 27-of-56 (48%) from the field and 10-of-28 (36%) from three, scoring 34 points in the paint and winning the rebounding battle 38-31. UIS shot 24-of-62 (39%) overall and went 6-of-18 (33%) from deep, but stayed within reach by going 18-of-21 (86%) at the stripe.
Parkside will not return to action until New Year's Day, when the Rangers host Roosevelt at 1 p.m. CT as GLIAC play resumes.
To keep up with the Rangers, be sure to visit parksiderangers.com/coverage.
