Lebanon, IL - There will be a historic vibe to the atmosphere of the Statham Sports Center on Saturday afternoon, as the McKendree University Women's Basketball team plays host to the UIS Prairie Stars. McKendree will be ushering in its 2025 Athletics Hall of Fame Class later in the evening, a class that features Bearcat Women's Basketball alumnus Caty (Ponce) Happe. Also, the Women's Basketball program specifically is hosting its annual Alumni Day, with varying festivities having already started prior to gameday. On top of all of the celebration going on, the Prairie Stars (9-12, 6-7 GLVC) are a team that McKendree (11-8, 8-5 GLVC) won a thriller against back in early December, 68-66, up in Springfield, giving fans multiple reasons to be in the building on Saturday.
McKENDREE VS. UIS - SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7TH - 1:00 PM
34th Meeting Since 2006 - McKendree leads, 22-11
Last Matchup: McKendree 68, UIS 66 - December 4th, 2025
Watch Live ($): GLVCSN (Alex Gruberman, Jack LeMatty)
Live Stats: Sidearm Sports
Tickets: UniversityTickets
PONCE TO BE INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME
Later on Saturday evening, Bearcat Women's Basketball alumnus Caty (Ponce) Happe will be inducted as part of the 2025 McKendree Athletics Hall of Fame Class.
Ponce served as a four-year starter in basketball. One of the greatest shooters in McKendree history, she graduated as the program's all-time leader in three-pointers made (205), while also ranking fifth in scoring (1,533), sixth in assists (350), sixth in field goals made (529), and 10th in free throws made (270).
Ponce was a two-time second-team All-GLVC performer and the 13th member of the 1,000-point club.
Academically, she earned the GLVC Council of Presidents' Academic Excellence Award and was a five-time Academic All-GLVC honoree.
Originally from Edwardsville, she continues to reside there and coaches softball at Edwardsville High School and Liberty Middle School.
ABOUT THE BEARCATS' LAST WEEK
L vs. #25 UMSL, 59-62 | January 29th, 2026
McKendree went toe-to-toe with #25 UMSL last Thursday, leading for more than 23 minutes in a game with 11 ties and 15 lead changes, but the Tritons edged out a three-point win with late free throws. The Bearcats led 16-12 after one and 28-25 at halftime, then pushed the margin to seven in the third before taking a 45-44 lead into the fourth. The final quarter stayed tight throughout, with neither team up more than three, and McKendree's last look fell short in the closing seconds.
Kyra Taylor led the Bearcats with 23 points (9-of-18 shooting, 5-of-5 free throws) and 5 rebounds.
Tessa Crawford added 10 points with two threes, while
Emma Slings posted 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Madison Johnson finished with 8 points and 5 rebounds.
L vs. Maryville, 63-76 | January 31st, 2026
McKendree put itself in position for a signature home win on Saturday, but Maryville's depth and late execution flipped a tight game into a 76-63 Saints victory. The Bearcats led after the first quarter, carried a 37-35 halftime edge, and were within one late in the third before Maryville closed the game on a 21-11 fourth quarter run behind 31 bench points.
Kyra Taylor once again led McKendree with 18 points (8-of-8 free throws), adding 7 rebounds and 2 assists.
Baylie Parks posted 11 points and 9 rebounds, while
Emma Slings finished with 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals.
Madison Johnson also reached double figures with 10 points and 3 rebounds.
The Bearcats stayed within reach early in the fourth, but Maryville sealed the outcome at the free throw line and with a late basket to secure the road win.
SCOUTING THE UIS PRAIRIE STARS
The UIS Prairie Stars have collected eight of their nine wins in true home games, but their run in true road games should not be overlooked. After all, this is a squad that a week ago knocked off #25 UMSL in Springfield. A team capable of getting such results, coupled with the fact that they're currently one spot outside of the GLVC Tournament Qualification line (standing at 9th; only 8 teams qualify), could make them a dangerous team down the home stretch of the regular season.
Offensively, UIS revolves around three players averaging north of 10 points per game: Kayla Rice (15.1 ppg), Julia Mingus (12.6 ppg), and Kennedy Osterman (11.6 ppg). That same trio also shows that the Prairie Stars gravitate towards the three-pointer, with Rice, Mingus, and Osterman combining to have made 130 shots from beyond the arc in 2025-26.
UIS also shoots the basketball at an efficient clip, coming in at 40.1%. From three, the Prairie Stars sit at 36.6%, second in the league only to Drury's 37.8%.
Despite the emphasis on the perimeter offense, in the prior meeting with McKendree on December 4th, UIS hit nine threes (including four from Mingus), but still fell in the game. Mingus (18 pts) and Rice (13 pts) were in double figures, while
Tessa Crawford (career-high 23 pts, 4 3-pointers),
Chloe White (16 pts), and
Baylie Parks (13 pts, 10 reb) were all in double figures for the Bearcats.
Lastly, that December 4th battle is one of just two Prairie Star games decided by one score. The lone other game is a 71-70 loss at Quincy.
