The UIC Flames (4-17, 1-9 HL) led wire to wire, set season highs in offensive efficiency, and registered their first Horizon League win of the season with a 74-60 triumph over Valparaiso (5-16, 0-10 HL) Saturday afternoon at UIC Pavilion.

The Flames shot 55% from the floor, their best performance all year, and assisted on a Horizon League-high 21 of their 26 baskets.  Ten of those assists came from Terri Bender, making her the all-time assist leader in UIC history.  She got her 455^th assist on a Taylor Toney jumper late in the fourth quarter to move past Chrissy Dizon at the top of the list.  It was her third career game with double digit assists. 

Toney led the Flames, setting a career high with 25 points.  She made her first 10 shots, finishing 11-for-12.  Tyra Carlsten-Handberg also had a career high, scoring 18 points and going 3-for-6 on three pointers.

From the start, the Flames were moving well with and without the ball, and most importantly, hitting their shots.  Bender got things started with a basket on a transition runout, and Toney fought for an offensive rebound in traffic and converted a layup. 

UIC led 23-10 after the first quarter, extended their lead to as much as 22 points, and Valparaiso never got closer than 10 the rest of the game.

Tyra Carlsten-Handberg had a great first half.  She made two three-pointers and showed some nice post moves, including a sweeping step around a Valpo defender ending with a scoop shot.
If Carlsten-Handberg's first half was great, Taylor Toney's entire game was nothing short of magnificent.  The sophomore's 25 points were the highest by a Flame all year.  She had a team high eight rebounds.  Two of them came on the offensive end, and she scored off both of them including once on a nice reverse layup.

UIC's effort on the defensive end of the floor was not to be overlooked.  They held Valpo to under 30% shooting, including misses on their first 10 tries from three point range.  Laura Litchfield forced a 5-second call, and Bender had a ferocious block late in the game.

The Crusaders made a late run, outscoring UIC 9-2 to pull within 10 points with just a minute left.  But they had too many turnovers – five alone in a three minute span late in the quarter – to sustain a comeback, and the Flames made 11 of 15 free throws in the quarter, including four in the final minute by Bender to seal the victory.  UIC's 81% showing at the free throw line (17-21) represented a season high.

Valpo's Dani Franklin, the Horizon League's leading scorer, was frustrated constantly by UIC's post defense.  She did score 20 points, but made just four of 16 shots.  Most of her damage came from the free throw line, where she was a perfect 10-for-10 and the team made 15 of 16.  Amber Lindfors found her groove late in the first half, scoring eight of her team's last 12 points before halftime.  She tallied 15 for the game.

UIC's season-long homestand will continue Thursday.  Cleveland State will come to town for a 7:00 pm contest.  The Flames will look to avenge their loss to the Vikings earlier this season and win consecutive games for the first time this year.