SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Upper Iowa (14-13, 10-9 GLVC) outscored Illinois Springfield (12-14, 9-9 GLVC) 23-13 in the fourth quarter on Saturday to win, 76-70. Graduate Ellie Foster put up a career-high 28 points in the win, while Ava Privet scored 20 points and Kendyl Lodermeier added 19 points.
With the victory, Upper Iowa jumped to seventh in the GLVC Point Rating System at 3.24. Quincy (Ill.) (13-12, 10-8 GLVC) dropped to eighth at 3.22 with losses to Maryville (Mo.) (21-6, 15-4 GLVC) and McKendree (Ill.) (16-8, 13-5 GLVC) this weekend. Illinois Springfield fell to ninth after Saturday's loss with a 3.08 rating.
UIU trailed 57-49 with 2:47 left in the third quarter. Privet and Bryar Duwe each made free throws, cutting the lead to 57-53 entering the fourth. Lodermeier started the fourth quarter with an and-one and Foster knocked down a jumper to give UIU a 58-57 lead with 8:36 to go. It was Upper Iowa's first lead since 1:33 left in the first half.
Lodermeier added another basket off a Kenzie Deaton assist, capping off an 11-0 run. After UIS free throws to cut the lead to one, Privet drilled a 3-pointer for a four-point lead. A few possessions later, she hit another trey to lead, 68-61, with 6:51 left.
Illinois Springfield battled back, as Kennedy Osterman hit an and-one, cutting the Peacock lead to 68-66. Lodermeier drew a foul a few possessions later and knocked down the free throws to put the lead back at four points. A nice move and a Privet layup extended it to six. Privet and Foster each went 2-for-2 at the line down the stretch to salt the game away, 76-70.
The first quarter was explosive and high-scoring, with the Peacocks shooting 9-of-13 (69.2%) from the field, and the Prairie Stars shooting 9-of-18 (50%). Foster was 5-of-6 from the field and 4-of-5 from behind the arc in the period, totaling 14 points. After a Lodermeier layup to start the game, Foster scored the next 11 points for UIU after making her first four shots. The Peacocks led 23-22 after the opening period with Lodermeier knocking in a late layup.
With UIU leading 37-34 in the second quarter, Illinois Springfield gained control with a 6-0 run. Lodermeier hit free throws for the last points of the half, and UIU trailed 40-39 at the break. The Prairie Stars shot 8-of-17 (41.7%) from the field in the second quarter.
UIS extended that lead to 46-40 to start the third. Foster answered by scoring five of UIU's next six points to tie the game. Illinois Springfield wiped away that effort with back-to-back Osterman 3-pointers to lead by six with 5:28 to go. Kayla Rice later hit a 3-pointer, extending the UIS lead to 57-49 for the largest of the game by either team.
Foster, Privet, Lodermeier and Duwe were the only Peacocks to score. Foster shot 9-of-15 (60%) from the field and 5-of-8 (62.5%) from behind the arc. She added three assists and three rebounds. The graduate broke her previous career-high of 25 points against Augustana (S.D.) on Nov. 22, 2025, and this is Foster's sixth game with 20 or more points this season.
Privet's 20 points came on 6-of-14 (42.8%) shooting with a 4-of-10 (40%) mark on 3-pointers. She had three rebounds, an assist and was a perfect 4-for-4 at the charity stripe. Lodermeier grabbed seven rebounds to go with her 19 points. The freshman was 6-of-14 (42.8%) from the field and went 7-of-9 (77.7%) on free throws.
Duwe grabbed a team-high nine rebounds while scoring nine points. She also had an assist and a block. Sydnee Nelson totaled five assists with six rebounds. Deaton grabbed three rebounds with two assists. Nelson and Deaton were both +16 on the court for UIU, despite not scoring.
Osterman led the way for UIS with 20 points. She also had a team-high seven rebounds. Rice and Julia Mingus each scored 14 points with three assists. Rice added an impressive seven steals.
The Peacocks finished the game 24-of-56 (42.9%) from the field, 9-of-24 (39.5%) on 3-points and 19-of-23 (82.6%) from the field. That marks the second-most free throws made for the Peacocks in a game this season.
UIS was 28-of-69 (40.6%) from the field, 7-of-29 (24.1%) from behind the arc and 7-of-10 (70%) from the charity stripe. Both teams were a combined 31-of-65 (47.7%) in the first half, but then 21-of-60 (35%) in the second half.
Illinois Springfield outscored Upper Iowa 24-7 off turnovers, with the Peacocks committing 17 to the Prairie Stars' 12. UIS also had 10 steals compared to four for UIU. Illinois Springfield outscored UIU in the paint, 40-28, and on second-chance points, 16-9.
The Peacocks led for 20:28 while the Prairie Stars led for 16:45. There were 10 lead changes and six ties. UIU's 11-0 run in the second half was the best scoring run of the game.
Upper Iowa wraps up the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 1 p.m. against Lewis (Ill.) (16-10, 12-6 GLVC) in Romeoville. The Flyers lost to UIS on Thursday, but picked up a 63-56 win on Saturday against UIndy (5-21, 4-14 GLVC). Lewis plays Quincy (Ill.) on Thursday, Feb. 26, before the Peacocks on Saturday.
