Postseason basketball returns for the Prairie Stars! Friday night brings a rivalry flavor to the opening round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament.
The third-seeded Prairie Stars will face sixth-seeded McKendree at 7:45 p.m. in St. Louis, renewing one of the program's longest-running rivalries. The winner advances to the GLVC semifinals on Saturday night.
As part of UIS Athletics' 15 Years of NCAA Division II Membership celebration, the department is highlighting 15 standout teams and 15 standout student-athletes who have shaped the Prairie Stars' Division II era. Each week, UIS features one team and one student-athlete, honoring the accomplishments, championship moments, and legacy-building performances that have defined Prairie Stars Athletics.
Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars men's golf will compete in a challenging five-event spring schedule as the program continues its first year led by head coach Josh Edison.
The Prairie Stars showed steady improvement during the fall season, highlighted by a second-place finish at the Bearcat Dual Gender and a fourth-place showing at the Arch Cup. The team enters the spring looking to build on that momentum.
Kennedy Osterman of UIS Women's Basketball capped her collegiate career with a national honor, earning WBCA/D2CIDA National Player of the Week recognition after powering the Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars to a pair of conference victories in her final weekend of competition.
The graduate guard delivered a dominant two-game stretch, averaging 29.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.0 steals and 2.5 assists as UIS defeated William Jewell and Rockhurst.
The Prairie Stars are set for five competitions this spring, highlighted by four regular-season tournaments and the postseason championship.
Illinois Springfield women's golf will compete in five events during spring 2026 as the program continues its first season under head coach Josh Edison.
UIS opens at the Emerald Coast Classic (March 16-17) at Baytowne Golf Club in Destin, Fla., before heading to Richmond, Ky., for the Findlay Spring Invite (March 16-17) at Boone Trace National Golf Club.
Senior distance standout Madelyn Miller-Ross has earned a berth to the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships, qualifying in the 5,000 meters. The national meet will be held March 13-15 at the Virginia Beach Sports Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Miller-Ross secured her spot with a season-best and indoor program-record time of 16:28.26 at the John Thomas Terrier Classic hosted by Boston University on Jan. 31. The mark stands as her indoor personal best, narrowly off her outdoor career best of 16:27.78 set last spring.
As part of UIS Athletics' 15 Years of NCAA Division II Membership celebration, the department is highlighting 15 standout teams and 15 standout student-athletes who have shaped the program's Division II era. Each week, UIS features one team and one player, honoring the accomplishments, championship moments, and legacy-building performances that have defined Prairie Stars Athletics.
Kennedy Osterman delivered a standout final weekend of her collegiate career, earning the season's final women's basketball weekly honor from the Great Lakes Valley Conference after helping Illinois Springfield to a pair of conference wins.
The graduate guard averaged 29.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.0 steals and 3.5 assists in two road victories to close the season. She shot 53 percent (20-of-38) from the field, 63 percent (10-of-16) from three-point range and was a perfect 9-for-9 at the free throw line during the week.
The Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars competed over the weekend at the GLVC Indoor Track & Field Championships, gaining valuable championship experience despite competing with a small squad.
Senior Isaac Cortes delivered the top Prairie Stars finish on Saturday, placing 10th in the 5,000-meter run in 15:05.60. Cortes returned to competition this season for the first time since 2025 outdoor track.