Springfield Tops Purdue Northwest 79-64
Illinois Springfield opened its women's basketball season with a 79-64 win over Purdue Northwest at The Recreation & Athletic Center.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Basketball
Illinois Springfield defeated Purdue Northwest 79-64 on Monday in the season opener for both teams, played before an attendance of 301 in Springfield, Illinois. Illinois Springfield moved to 1-0 overall, while Purdue Northwest fell to 0-1.
Why it matters
The result gives Illinois Springfield an early 1-0 start in the GLVC while Purdue Northwest begins its 2026-27 campaign winless in conference play. Purdue Northwest's next game is a GLIAC/GLVC Crossover against Hillsdale College on November 13.
Illinois Springfield shot 27-of-55 from the field and 12-of-26 from three-point range, while Purdue Northwest shot 20-of-44 and 3-of-11 from deep. Illinois Springfield also held a 27-25 rebounding edge and scored 17 fast-break points to Purdue Northwest's seven.
The players
Illinois Springfield
The Illinois Springfield women's basketball program competes in the Great Lakes Valley Conference of NCAA Division II.
Purdue Northwest
Purdue University Northwest is a public university in Indiana whose athletic teams compete in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Jayda Scorza
Jayda Scorza is a junior guard for Purdue Northwest who is originally from Lake Mary, Florida.
The details
Illinois Springfield built an early advantage with an 8-of-18 first quarter that included four three-pointers. Junior Jayda Scorza led Purdue Northwest with 13 points, while Kayla Rice paced all scorers with 30.
Timeline
Monday, November 9, 2026: Purdue Northwest opens its season at Illinois Springfield, a 79-64 loss.
Friday, November 13, 2026: Purdue Northwest hosts Hillsdale College in a GLIAC/GLVC Crossover.
Season Trajectory
Illinois Springfield's 1-0 start in the Great Lakes Valley Conference gives it an early foothold in the conference race. Purdue Northwest's 0-1 opening, with no conference games yet played, leaves it chasing standings positioning from the outset of the GLIAC/GLVC crossover schedule.
Purdue Northwest's 0-1 start means it must win its November 13 crossover game against Hillsdale College to avoid an early slide in the standings. Fantasy and bracket watchers should note that Kayla Rice's 30-point game set the scoring pace for Illinois Springfield.
The takeaway
Early-season results can set the tone for conference positioning, as Illinois Springfield's balanced scoring and fast-break edge helped it open 1-0 in the GLVC. Fans tracking both programs should watch how each team responds in its next conference-facing game.
What happens next
Purdue Northwest hosts Hillsdale College in a GLIAC/GLVC Crossover on Friday, November 13, 2026.
Further reading
Find more coverage in the Basketball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Nwitimes.
