OWENSBORO, KY - Corina Conley has been balling out this season, and she didn't slow down on Monday night. The senior notched double-double of career highs, as she tallied 26 points and 13 rebounds in the game. Her performance led the Panthers to a big 86-68 win over a quality Illinois-Springfield team. 

The Panthers move to 4-1 (0-0 G-MAC) while UIS falls to 3-2 (1-1 GLVC). 

The Prairie Stars came out of the gate swinging, taking a 16-11 lead on the home side with 3:03 remaining in the opening quarter. A three from Corina Conley opened up the floodgates for the Panthers, as they closed the frame on an 11-0 run to take a 22-16 lead after one. 

Wesleyan didn't let the break between quarters stop their momentum, as they opened up the second quarter on an incredible 21-2 run. During this run the Panthers hit three shots from behind the arc, including back-to-back treys off the hand of Emmy Ralph. Sydnee Richetto hit a late jumper, and Shaylee McDonald hit two free throws with 10 seconds left in the half to give Wesleyan a big 26-point (50-24) lead at the break. 

It was a battle in the second half, as the Prairie Stars wouldn't go down without a fight. Despite this, the Panthers still led by at least 20 points during the entire third quarter. The three times UIS cut it to 21, Conley answered with a layup of her own, including a big and-1 early in the frame. After three, Wesleyan led 70-48. 

Ralph opened up the fourth quarter with a layup, and Conley helped her teammate out by scoring the Panther's next five points. Illinois-Springfield managed to cut it to 15, but it was too little too late, as a late Jordyn Barga layup sealed the win. 

The Panthers shot 28-64 (43.8%) from the floor and an impressive 9-16 (56.3%) from three. UIS shot nearly as well as the Panthers, going 26-61 (42.6%) from the floor, but they only hit three of their 13 (23.1%) three point attempts. Wesleyan won the free throw battle, going 21-30 at the line, while UIS was 13-15. 

Wesleyan shared the ball well, as they assisted on 18 of their 28 makes, while Illinois-Springfield assisted on just six of their 26 made baskets. 

As stated earlier, Corina Conley led with a big 26-point, 13-rebound double-double. Three other Panthers finished in double-figures, as Shaylee McDonald (14), Jordyn Barga (13), and Emmy Ralph (12) each hit five field goals to reach double-figures. Mcdonald helped out with four assists, while Barga tallied three steals. 

The Panthers will open up conference play later this week when they take on the Findlay Oilers on Thursday. Findlay sits at 4-1 overall, and opens conference play at Trevecca Nazarene tomorrow. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT. 

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