HAMMOND, Ind. – Despite a game-high 24 points by junior Shae Rhonehouse (Fremont, Ind./Fremont), the Purdue Northwest women's basketball team dropped its home opener to University of Illinois-Springfield (UIS), 80-72, Saturday afternoon on John Friend Court at the Fitness & Recreation Center in Hammond, Ind. The Pride were within four points multiple times inside the final minute of regulation, but the Prairie Stars hit key free throws in the closing seconds to secure the victory.

Freshman Lanie Allen (East Noble, Ind./East Noble) posted 14 points to go along with nine rebounds, while senior Ellie Michalski (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) provided a double-double performance of 10 points and team-leading 11 rebounds for PNW. Senior Shelbi Patterson led UIS with 22 points. Turnovers plagued Purdue Northwest throughout the game with 26 miscues helping lead to 25 of the Prairie Star's point total.

The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair with a three by Rhonehouse putting PNW up 7-5 at the 6:23 mark of the frame. Junior Michaela Kikendall (Morristown, Ind./Morristown) converted a lay-up late in the period to give the Pride a 15-13 advantage, but UIS scored four straight to take a 17-15 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Illinois-Springfield played well early in the second quarter and built a 33-22 lead with 4:06 left to play in the half. However, a three-pointer by freshman Danielle Nennig (Wrightstown, Wis./Wrightstown) sparked a 14-5 run for the Pride to trim the deficit to just two points, 38-36, at the break. A lay-up by Michalski midway through the third quarter put PNW up 48-47, but a late three-pointer by the Stars gave them a 57-55 edge heading into the final period.

The Pride tied the game multiple times early in the fourth quarter, but could not take back the lead. UIS went ahead by six (67-61) with 3:40 remaining, but Rhonehouse cut the lead to a pair, 68-66, with a three-pointer at the 1:49 mark. Unfortunately, that was as close as PNW could get as the Prairie Stars hit pivotal shots and free throws over the final two minutes.     

Purdue Northwest (0-4 overall) begins Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play on Thursday, November 30, heading up to Grand Rapids, Mich., to take on Davenport University (Mich.). The game is scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. CT start at the DU Student Center in Grand Rapids.