Illinois Springfield Women's Basketball Falls to Upper Iowa

Prairie Stars unable to hold fourth quarter lead in close conference matchup

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The University of Illinois Springfield women's basketball team fell to Upper Iowa University, 76-70, on Saturday afternoon. UIS led by as many as eight points in the third quarter but could not hold off a strong fourth quarter comeback by the Peacocks.

Why it matters

This was an important conference matchup between two teams battling for a spot in the GLVC tournament. The loss drops UIS to 12-14 overall and 9-9 in conference play, while Upper Iowa improves to 14-13 and 10-9.

The details

UIS forced 17 Upper Iowa turnovers and converted them into 24 points, but the Peacocks outscored the Prairie Stars 23-13 in the fourth quarter to secure the victory. Kennedy Osterman led UIS with 20 points, while Kayla Rice added 14 points, seven steals and four rebounds.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
  • UIS led 57-49 heading into the fourth quarter.

The players

Kennedy Osterman

A key player for the UIS women's basketball team, scoring a team-high 20 points in the loss.

Kayla Rice

Contributed 14 points, seven steals and four rebounds for the Prairie Stars.

Kendall Lodermeier

Scored early to help Upper Iowa take the lead in the first quarter.

Ellie Foster

Knocked down multiple three-pointers to help Upper Iowa build a brief cushion in the first half.

Privet

Hit two key three-pointers in the fourth quarter to shift the momentum in Upper Iowa's favor.

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What they’re saying

“This was a tough loss, but we'll learn from it and come back stronger in our final games. We had our chances, but Upper Iowa made the plays down the stretch.”

— Kennedy Osterman, UIS Player

What’s next

UIS will visit both William Jewell and Rockhurst in the final week of the regular season as they look to secure a spot in the GLVC tournament.

The takeaway

This close conference matchup highlighted the competitive nature of the GLVC, with both teams battling hard for a crucial late-season victory. UIS will need to regroup quickly to finish the regular season strong and earn a postseason berth.