Springfield, Ill.  – The Missouri Southern women's basketball team jumped out to a 7-0 lead and extended it to the team's largest lead of 12 in the third period, but the Illinois-Springfield Prairie Stars late run in the fourth sparked them to a 80-75 overtime victory inside the Recreation and Athletic Center Saturday night.
 
Junior center Zoe Campbell scored 21 points (8-for-12 FG) to match a career-high while senior forward Chasidee Owens finished second on the squad in points with 18. Owens and Campbell each grabbed nine rebounds as well.
 
Sophomore Layne Skiles added ten points in the loss.

The Lions (1-3) got off to a great start by going on a 7-0 run with five points coming from Campbell which included a three-pointer to cap off the run.  The Prairie Stars (3-0) got within two twice to shutdown the Lions' quick start, but back-to-back baskets from Skiles and senior guard Destiny Cozart gave Southern a 11-7 lead at the first media timeout of the contest.
 
After UIS came back to tie it up at 13-13, sophomore Amber Buch drained a three-pointer as time expired to put the Lions back in front 16-13 to closeout the first period.

UIS eventually took its first lead of the game at 22-21 at the six-minute mark off a made basket and free throw by Maela Jackson. MSSU responded with a 15-6 spurt to take a 36-28 advantage into the break.

Southern extended its advantage out of halftime with the first two baskets of the third period toward its largest lead of the game at 12. The home team answered and went on an 8-0 run with 3:30 left in the third to head into the final period of regulation down one (54-53)
 
The fourth period became a back-to-forth battle as both teams traded leads down the stretch. It all led to the Lions holding a three-point lead with 19 seconds remaining on the clock forcing UIS to call a timeout. Out of the timeout, the Prairie Stars found a shot opportunity on the near wing and Tehya Fortune swished it to push the game into overtime all knotted up at 67-67.
 
 UIS carried the momentum over and held onto the lead after taking a trio of four-point advantages, leading to the 80-75 victory.
 
 Missouri Southern is back on the court tomorrow at 3:00 pm in the first meeting with the McKendree Bearcats.