(SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Feb. 28)—Junior guard Haley Klingelhoefer (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) poured in a career-high 23 points at the University of Illinois at Springfield Saturday, but a three-pointer by the Prairie Stars with two seconds remaining defeated McKendree in the American Midwest Conference regular season finale 62-60.

McKendree fell to 18-11 overall and 9-7 in the AMC, while Illinois-Springfield improved to 8-22 overall and 6-10 in the AMC. McKendree awaits word on their first round opponent for the American Midwest Conference tournament.

Klingelhoefer's (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) 23 points led all player's and was the only Bearcat player in double figures. Tiffany Sproat led the Prairie Stars with 13 points, while Shana Stein and Erin Glogovsky both contributed 11 points.

The Prairie Stars led for the entire first half, except for the opening minutes of the contest. Illinois-Springfield led by 11 points with 2:44 remaining in the first half, but a layup, a jumper and a three-pointer by Klingelhoefer in the final 2:24 cut the score to 33-27 at the half.

The Bearcats battled back and had the game tied six times in the second half and a layup by Klingelhoefer gave McKendree a 60-59 lead with 11 seconds left, but a three-pointer by the Prairie Stars' Alex Blair with two seconds left gave Illinois-Springfield a two-point win in the regular season finale.

-McK-