The good news for UIC (3-10, 0-2 HL) was that they ended a two game shooting slump while continuing their dominance on the glass.

The bad news was that Detroit Mercy (6-7, 2-0 HL) lit up the scoreboard from three point range in a 98-76 win at Calihan Hall on New Year's Eve.

The Flames had their best shooting game since November 17 by making 43.7% of their shots.  They had been held under 30% over their last two games since cracking the 40% barrier in a win over Howard.  But the Titans made 55.6% of their threes (15-27), by far the best performance allowed this season by a UIC squad that entered the game third in the Horizon League in three point defense.

Taylor Toney logged career highs with 19 points and nine rebounds.  She easily outpaced her season averages of 9.6 and 5.1.  She made a career high eight field goals on 53% shooting.

Brittany Byrd had 14 points, marking her fifth straight game in double figures.  Gabryelle Johnson and Tyra Carlsten-Handberg, each had nine rebounds, which was a career high for the latter.

UIC's improved shooting and 20-rebound advantage, including a 25-7 edge on the offensive glass, gave them chances throughout the contest.  An 8-3 run to end the first quarter cut down an early Detroit Mercy 19-8 lead.  After the Titans extended their lead to 11 early in the second, the Flames called timeout, then scored 9 straight points.

During that run, Teodora Zagorac got in the game for the first time since December 3, and contributed with a putback off an offensive rebound which turned into a three point play.

Once the Flames closed to within two points, Detroit Mercy called a timeout of their own, and in turn put together an 11-3 run to go back up by 10.  After they stretched their lead to 12 in the early stages of the third quarter, UIC would go on a 9-2 run capped by a Toney layup that brought them within five points.  But then the Titans got back to back three pointers, eventually pushing their cushion to 15 points by the end of the quarter.

Nicole Urbanik and Anja Marinkovic each scored 20 points for the home team, and Rosanna Reynolds and Kelsey Mitchell had 15 apiece.  Reynolds dished out a personal season high 11 assists, which was also tops by any individual UIC opponent this year.

The Flames scored the first five points of the fourth quarter to ignite one last glimmer of hope.  The Titans responded with a 10-2 run capped by a Mitchell three point play, squashing any hopes of a UIC lead.

UIC's shooting resurgence was contagious.  Eight players made at least 50% of their shots, a season high.  The team was not as efficient on free throws.  They were just 11 for 27 (40.7%) at the stripe.

The Flames will return to action January 5 with the first of a two game home stand.  Milwaukee will open the home portion of the Horizon League schedule, followed by Green Bay January 7.