CHICAGO – UIC used a balanced attack and a prolific fourth quarter run to put away the North Park Vikings in exhibition action at the UIC Pavilion Friday night, 84-51.
 
How It Happened

• The balance showed itself early on as seven different players scored for the Flames in the first quarter. Fifth-year senior Terri Bender led all players with five points in the opening 10 minutes.
• The Flames opened things up even further in the second quarter as they doubled up the Vikings 22-11 to snag a 44-29 lead at the half.
• UIC's defensive effort also intensified as it held North Park to 11 points and a mark of 30.8 percent from the field in the second 10-minute segment.
• The Flames continued to grow their overall advantage as they held the Vikings to 11 points for the second consecutive period to take a 23-point cushion into the final quarter.
• UIC created some serious distance in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter. After the Vikings scored the quarter's first basket, the Flames used a 10-0 run over a quick 2:15 span to balloon the lead to 35 points. Newcomer KiKi Bynes scored the final seven points of the spurt by herself over 87 seconds.

 
Beyond The Box Score

• UIC used its discernable size advantage to own the glass. The Flames outrebounded North Park, 50-31, in the victory. UIC's Teodora Zagorac paced all players with 10 caroms collected, including five on the offensive end.
• The help in the height column also helped the Flames block six shots. Zagorac led all players with four rejections. North Park blocked only two shots.
• Bender scored eight points and added a team-high four assists in her first game action since December. The fifth-year senior was limited to just two games last season as she sustained a season-ending injury at Denver.
• Four players made their UIC debut Friday. Freshman Tyra Carlsten-Handberg was in the starting lineup, while Bynes, Gabryelle Johnson, and Lacy Stewart and Tylah Lampley contributed in a reserve role.
• Melita Emanuel-Carr and Desiree Jackson led the Flames with 10 points.
• In total 11 different players scored for UIC.

 
UIC will begin the regular season next weekend when it hosts Lake Forest at the UIC Pavilion at 7 p.m. The contest is the first in a season-opening four-game homestand to start the 2016-17 campaign.