It's not often that the winner of a basketball game can be said to have "escaped" with the victory win the final margin is 14 points.

But few who witnessed Saturday afternoon's contest between UIC and Green Bay would disagree with that characterization of the Phoenix' 79-65 win over the Flames at UIC Pavilion.  Green Bay improved to 13-2 and a perfect 4-0 in Horizon League play, while UIC fell to 3-12 overall and 0-4 within the conference.

The Flames shot 45.5% from the floor and 40% from three point range, both of which were the highest given up this season by a Green Bay defense that entered the game second in the nation in field goal percentage allowed.  But the Phoenix made up for it at the free throw line.  They converted 18 of 25 foul shots, while UIC made only 11 trips to the line, hitting five.

Green Bay started the game with a barrage of three pointers.  They made three of their first five shots, all from behind the arc, and led by as many as 10 points in the early going.  Terri Bender showed a variety of moves, accounting for UIC's first six points on a pull-up jumper, a runner in the lane, and a spinner that rolled around the rim before falling through.

Then UIC turned up the defensive intensity.  Tyra Carlsten-Handberg (14 points) made a three pointer to kick off the second quarter.  Melita Emanuel-Carr, playing in the 100^th game of her career, added one shortly thereafter to bring the Flames within one, 19-18.  The Phoenix didn't score in the period until getting the free throw line after 4:30 had elapsed.  Green Bay missed 10 straight shots over a span of 8:30.

After Green Bay's drought ended, Allie LeClaire made a three pointer to put her team up by 8.  Then Brittany Byrd and Sam Terry played their own version of 1-on-1.  Byrd converted three consecutive three balls, but was answered each time by a Terry layup.  Byrd led UIC with 17 points and had 5 threes.  Carlsten-Handberg made four from downtown as the Flames converted a season high 10 triples.

In the second quarter UIC shot 60% (9-15) to Green Bay's 35.7% (5-14).  The Phoenix cooled off from downtown, making just 1 of their 7 three point attempts in the second.  Terri Bender converted a layup with under a minute to play, bringing the Flames within one at the break, 34-33.  It was by far the closest margin at halftime for Green Bay in Horizon League play, as they had led their previous conference games by an average of 20 points at the midway point.

UIC continued to ride the momentum as the third period opened.  Tyra Carlsten-Handberg swished a jumper off a set inbounds play, then a couple possessions later nailed a three to put the Flames ahead, 39-38.

Faced with a second half deficit for the first time in five games, Green Bay adjusted their approach.  They got the ball into the lane with purpose, and drew four fouls on UIC in a two minute span, including the fourth each on Emanuel-Carr and Taylor Toney.  The Phoenix reclaimed the lead and extended their advantage at the free throw line late in the third period and throughout the fourth.

With several Flames in foul trouble, Green Bay had an easy time of converting entry passes into layups.  They scored 14 points in the paint in the final quarter and made six of their seven free throws to ice the game.  UIC got a brief glimmer of hope when Taylor Toney made a three and a layup consecutively.  Green Bay immediately called timeout and righted the ship, and the Flames would get no closer than 11 points down the stretch.

Mehryn Kraker scored 12 of her game high 26 points in the fourth quarter.  Allie LeClaire contributed 20, nine in the final stanza.  The Phoenix, led by Jessica Lindstrom's 11 rebounds, claimed a 37-25 advantage on the boards.

The teams will meet again in Green Bay the final week of the regular season.  Next up for UIC will be a three game road trip starting with a contest at Youngstown State Thursday afternoon.