Stars lose two, still No. 1 in conference

By Mike Fitzpatrick - Sports Reporter

The hopes of the UIS men’s basketball team to clinch an outright conference championship vanished after the team fell to Columbia College on Senior Night and to Harris Stowe State College on the road.
With destiny in their own hands, the team struggled to find consistency in playing two halves of basketball in both games.
The Stars, who came into the game ranked 20th in the latest NAIA rankings, started out on fire against Columbia with their seniors scoring early and often to tally a 14-2 lead heading into a Columbia timeout. From that point on, it was all Columbia, who shot 59 percent from the field and hit three shots from behind the arc to take a 42-36.
The Stars did shoot 50 percent from the field in the first half but only compiled a percentage of 31 in the second half. The offense found no rhythm to build on, despite going to the free throw line for 25 attempts, though only 15 were converted. Columbia out-rebounded the Stars 40-29, including a margin of 27-19 on defensive rebounds. When it was all set and done, the packed crowd in the UIS Gymnasium went home silent and unhappy with an 88-68 loss in the final regular season home game.
Leading the team in scoring was senior Curtis Collins, who had 26 points. Freshman Kelvin Johnson added 13 points and senior Michael Griffin had 12 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore Aaron Anderson chipped in with seven points off the bench.
The loss stuck with the team as they traveled to Harris Stowe for a dangerous Saturday afternoon game where the Hornets looked to pull of the upset in front of their home crowd.
Johnson was plagued with foul trouble the entire first half as the Stars trailed 39-36 at the half. The second half saw the momentum completely shift towards the Hornets as Johnson was called for his fourth foul and then received a technical for arguing with the official, forcing his day to end with only 13 minutes of play in the game.
The Hornets had five players score in double figures and went on to upset the Prairie Stars 92-88. This was only Harris Stowe’s third victory in the American Midwest Conference.
Junior reserve Cory Farmer lead the team with 23 points. Senior Antonio Puckett had 15 points and Griffin had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Collins had 12 points to round out the scoring leaders for the Stars.
Despite losing their final two AMC games, the Stars will be seeded No. 1 in the conference tournament due to the tie-breaking procedures being in their favor. At 18-12 overall and 9-3 in the conference, the Stars will host either the Spartans of Missouri Baptist, who the Stars defeated twice this season, or Hannibal LaGrange at 7 p.m. tomorrow night in the UIS Gym. A victory would mean the team would host the AMC conference championship game at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Regular season comes to a close, preparation for AMC Tournament

By Mike Fitzpatrick - Sports Reporter

This past week a season of struggles came to an end as the women’s basketball team completed their two remaining regular season games and prepared for the upcoming AMC tournament. 
Coming off of three consecutive losses, the Stars hoped to end the season on a high note with two big wins against McKendree and Columbia College.
The Stars started off the McKendree game with a quick score.  This would be about the only time the Stars would hold the lead against the Bearcats. 
From start to finish, McKendree controlled the game with a 56.3 percent shooting percentage and good defense in the first half.  To make matters even worse, the Stars just couldn’t seem to get in a rhythm as their shooting was off, putting it at a dismal 34.4 percent from the field, a stat that no team can afford to have if they plan on winning the ballgame. 
At the end of the half, UIS went into the locker room trailing 46-33 and knowing that they would need to get it together in the second half if they wished to compete.
Even though they knew they would have to take better care of the ball, and get a better shot selection in the second half, this still couldn’t slow down the Bearcats, as at one point they had increased the lead to 21.  With the help of junior Miesha Hill’s defense, and senior Tamika Reeves’s precise shooting, the Stars were able to make a comeback cutting the lead to 12.  However, turnovers got the best of UIS as McKendree once again stepped it up increasing their level of play and the lead to 21.  When the buzzer sounded a disappointed UIS team walked off the court having lost 80-59 despite the efforts of Reeves’s 17 points and Hill’s 14.
Heading back to Springfield, the Stars began to prepare for a conference regular season ending match up against a tough Columbia College team. 
With what has become a trend lately for the women’s basketball team, the first half started off poorly for the Stars, holding the lead for the first few minutes and then giving it up to a Columbia team that would never look back.  At the half the Stars trailed by 21 with a score of 47-26.
Although in the second half UIS stepped up and began to shoot much better, Columbia insisted that they were going to fight to give up the lead.
The only real difference between the first half and the second half of play was that UIS played much better defense and the scoring went back and forth with the Stars only being outscored 44-43.  Sadly enough, the Stars dug a big hole for themselves in the first half, and it proved to be too much to overcome as they lost 91-69. 
Once again Reeves led the team with a team-high 33 points and eight rebounds followed by sophomore Keyria Rodgers with 12 points. 
This loss marks the end of the regular season for the Stars, putting them at 6-21 overall, with a 3-11 AMC record.  The team will now prepare for the AMC tournament in which the first round has an on-the-road rematch scheduled against the Columbia Cougars.

Random thoughts and opinions on current sports issues

By Mark Brockett- Sports Reporter

This past week a season of struggles came to an end as the women’s basketball team completed their two remaining regular season games and prepared for the upcoming AMC tournament. 
Coming off of three consecutive losses, the Stars hoped to end the season on a high note with two big wins against McKendree and Columbia College.
The Stars started off the McKendree game with a quick score.  This would be about the only time the Stars would hold the lead against the Bearcats. 
From start to finish, McKendree controlled the game with a 56.3 percent shooting percentage and good defense in the first half.  To make matters even worse, the Stars just couldn’t seem to get in a rhythm as their shooting was off, putting it at a dismal 34.4 percent from the field, a stat that no team can afford to have if they plan on winning the ballgame. 
At the end of the half, UIS went into the locker room trailing 46-33 and knowing that they would need to get it together in the second half if they wished to compete.
Even though they knew they would have to take better care of the ball, and get a better shot selection in the second half, this still couldn’t slow down the Bearcats, as at one point they had increased the lead to 21.  With the help of junior Miesha Hill’s defense, and senior Tamika Reeves’s precise shooting, the Stars were able to make a comeback cutting the lead to 12.  However, turnovers got the best of UIS as McKendree once again stepped it up increasing their level of play and the lead to 21.  When the buzzer sounded a disappointed UIS team walked off the court having lost 80-59 despite the efforts of Reeves’s 17 points and Hill’s 14.
Heading back to Springfield, the Stars began to prepare for a conference regular season ending match up against a tough Columbia College team. 
With what has become a trend lately for the women’s basketball team, the first half started off poorly for the Stars, holding the lead for the first few minutes and then giving it up to a Columbia team that would never look back.  At the half the Stars trailed by 21 with a score of 47-26.
Although in the second half UIS stepped up and began to shoot much better, Columbia insisted that they were going to fight to give up the lead.
The only real difference between the first half and the second half of play was that UIS played much better defense and the scoring went back and forth with the Stars only being outscored 44-43.  Sadly enough, the Stars dug a big hole for themselves in the first half, and it proved to be too much to overcome as they lost 91-69. 
Once again Reeves led the team with a team-high 33 points and eight rebounds followed by sophomore Keyria Rodgers with 12 points. 
This loss marks the end of the regular season for the Stars, putting them at 6-21 overall, with a 3-11 AMC record.  The team will now prepare for the AMC tournament in which the first round has an on-the-road rematch scheduled against the Columbia Cougars.

Campus Rec Briefs

Intramural Badminton Doubles League Results
Women’s Division: After defeating The Krickets 15-1, 15-1, H & R have made their way into the Championship Match against Two Monkeys of Fun.  The Championship Match will take place Wednesday, March 1 at 8:00pm.
Men’s Division: Team M & V will face Team R & T in the Men’s Championship Match at 7:00pm on Tuesday, February 28.
Mixed Division: The Tunak Tunak Tun London Dance Squad defended their undefeated league record and beat N & E for the Mixed Division Championship.  The match went three games, with scores of 15-9, 10-15, and 15-12.  Congratulations to Dale Schultz and Allie Leight of the Tunak Tunak Tun London Dance Squad.

Intramural 5x5 Basketball League Results
Friday, February 24: Jesse’s Team beat the Big Ballas 61-48, Tenacious D took a forfeit victory from the Small Group, and Flipside defeated K & J 70-55.
Saturday, February 25: The Little Lebowski Urban Achievers added another victory via forfeit from The Liberty Bells and Tenacious D defeated K & J 65-62.
Sunday, February 26: Jesse’s Team defeated the Liberty Bells by forfeit, The Little Lebowski Urban Achievers also won by a forfeit from the Big Ballas, and the Small Group defeated Flipside 67-66.

The Little Lebowski Urban Achievers (7-0) will meet Jesse’s Team (6-1) in the Championship Match at 2:30pm on Sunday, March 5.  Rounding out the field were the Big Ballas (4-3), Tenacious D (4-3), The Liberty Bells (3-4), the Small Group (2-5), Flipside (1-6), and K & J (0-7)

Intramural 5x5 Futsal
Intramural 5x5 Futsal will begin play on Sunday, March 26 in the UIS Gymnasium.  Teams should consist of a minimum of four players and a maximum of 8 players.  No more than two Non-UIS Rec Center Members/Non-UIS players per roster.  Each roster is also limited to no more than one present or past year’s intercollegiate soccer player.  Non-UIS roster members will be assessed a $10 fee.  Entry forms are available at the CRS Office and will be accepted until Monday, March 20 at 11:00pm.

UIS Baseball Sport Club Starts Play
The newly organized Baseball Sport Club is open to any UIS male or female, undergraduate or graduate, part-time or full-time student with a valid i-card.  The club will start practice in the Gym from 6:30-8pm on Wednesdays and Mondays starting March 1.   The club is also planning on coordinating a campus league for play this spring after Spring Break to ready themselves for fall competition with other college club and athletic teams.  Interested students interested in joining the club should obtain and complete a roster and release form and pay the $15 club dues at the Campus Recreational Sports (CRS) Office before their participation in the first practice.  Any questions should be directed to club President Josh Pomeroy at jpome2@uis.edu or Stephen Brow at sbrow3@uis.edu.

UIS Ultimate Disc Sport Club Practice
Sunday afternoons from 1-3pm, the Ultimate Disc Sport Club practices on the Sport Club Field east of Kiwanis Stadium as long as there is no frost on the field.  For more information, contact club President Alan Escobar at flyingdisc@uis.edu or call 557-5256 (work) or 529-8389 (home).

How Can I Learn About Campus Rec Sports Activities and Events?

Contact the Campus Recreational Sports (CRS) Office located in the Fitness Center (SLB 118) at 206-6658; send an e-mail to RecSports@uis.edu; or check out our website at www.uis.edu/recsports/.

Stars lose two still No. 1 in conference

Regular season comes to a close, preparation for AMC tournament

Brock Solid

Campus Rec Sports Briefs