SPRINGFIELD, ILL.- In their last game of the season, the Miners outlasted the Prairie Stars and collected the 82-79 win to close out the season.

The Prairie Stars and Miners opened play trading baskets with one another; after UIS got a four-point lead late in the quarter, S&T's Laura Rodriguez (Gran Canaria, Spain/Baloncesto Torrelodones) got a short jumper off just before the buzzer to put the Miners down 17-15.

S&T's offense got a spark in the second quarter. They would get their lead back with 4:39 left in the first half after Erica Waelterman (Webster Groves, MO/Webster Groves) found Marta Durk (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) streaking down the court for a fast break lay-up and the 27-25 lead. The Miners would keep their lead through the rest of the quarter and took a 39-34 lead into the halftime break.

The Miners offensive momentum kept steady into the third quarter of play.

After attempting to break away from the Prairie Stars, S&T got their first double digit lead of the game after Eryn Puett (Columbia, MO/Rock Bridge) found Marta Durk (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) wide open in the corner in transition for a three-pointer and pushed the Miners lead out to 10 with just under five minutes left in the quarter.

S&T was able to keep their distance from Illinois Springfield through the rest of the third quarter and take their 61-52 lead into the final 10 minutes of the game.

Things got a little dicey in the fourth quarter; UIS put the pressure on the Miners in the front court, trying to force S&T into fast break turnovers. The Prairie Stars shot 11 free throws in the first seven minutes of the quarter to get back within two of the Miners.

The Miners got a little more cushion back after Marta Durk (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) sank two free-throws and Ashley Harvey (Raytown, Mo./Raytown) drained a lay-up to put S&T back up by five with 1:40 remaining.

While the lead wasn't by much, the Miners were able to hold on for the win. Free-throws from Marta Durk (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) and Jada Lindesmith (St. Peters, MO/Lutheran) in the final minute of the game would seal the deal for S&T and give them the 82-79 win.

Alex Kerr (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph's Academy) had a career day with 28 points on 10-15 shooting and going 8-10 from the free-throw line. She also led the team with 13 rebounds. Laura Rodriguez (Gran Canaria, Spain/Baloncesto Torrelodones) and Marta Durk (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) also scored in double digits with 17 and 14 points, respectively.

As a team, Missouri S&T (4-17, 4-17 GLVC) finished the game shooting 52.7% from the field and going 20-27 from the free-throw line.