Besieged by illnesses and injuries, the short-handed Kentucky State University women's basketball team held off the University of Illinois Springfield, 64-61, Saturday in non-conference action at the William Exum Center. (Post game Interviews)

The Thorobreds are now 3-1 against the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

Junior Amani Williams (Scotch Plains, NJ) went four-for-four from the free throw line to secure the victory for a Thorobreds' team that played with six healthy players.

Junior Allenia Ponder (Smyrna, GA) sparked a 15-2 run with three straight steals and layups as the Thorobreds turned a five-point deficit into an eight-point lead. The advantage was pushed to 10 by the end of the third quarter.

Following a basket by senior Brooke Wallace (Oberlin, OH) with a little bit over six minutes remaining in the game, Kentucky State led by 12. The lead didn't last long as the Prairie Stars started hitting some shots, and trimmed its deficit to three with four minutes remaining.

UIS had a chance to take the lead with less than a minute remaining, but missed a three-pointer and Williams sealed the game from the foul line.

Wallace finished the game with her third straight double-double scoring 22 points while pulling down 15 rebounds and rejecting six shots. It is her eighth double-double on the season. Sophomore Erica Jones finished with 18 points and four rebounds, while Williams had 11 points and six assists.

The game featured five lead changes and a pair of times, and Kentucky State limited the Prairie Stars to just 39.3 percent (24-of-61) shooting from the field and 21.9 percent (7-of-32) from the three-point line.

Kentucky State (8-5 overall), winners of five straight, travels to Columbia, SC to face Benedict 6 p.m. Monday in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.