UIC overcame an 11 point deficit, and led Loyola (2-9) by six in the fourth quarter, but Loyola scored the game winning layup with 0.9 seconds left to capture a 57-55 win at Gentile Arena Friday afternoon.  Undone by turnovers late in the game, UIC (7-4) saw their winning streak get snapped at four games.

Taylor Toney led all scorers with 15 points.  The Flames capitalized with 21 points off of turnovers, but shot just 35.5% for the game.  The much more efficient Ramblers made 45% of their field goals and placed three players in double figures.

First Half Highlights

• Loyola dominated the opening minutes.  They out-rebounded the Flames 9-4 over the first 5:12 and took an 8-0 lead as UIC missed its first 10 field goals.
• An Abreanna Lake free throw got the Flames on the board.  Toward the end of the first quarter, Kiarra Thompson made a three pointer and Catera Etheridge made a driving layup to close the gap.  Katie Salmon made a shot at the buzzer, giving her eight points in the quarter and the Ramblers a 16-8 lead after one.
• Brittany Byrd saw open space in the lane and drove for a layup to start a Flames rally early in the second quarter.
• As the Flames kept Loyola from scoring for over five minutes, Taylor Toney and Tia Tedford combined to force a turnover on the sideline.  Two offensive rebounds kept a possession alive until Byrd nailed a three to cap a 9-0 run.
• After Loyola ended their drought, the teams exchanged baskets for the next two and a half minutes.  Tia Tedford scored the last five points of the first half, giving UIC a one point lead at the break.

Second Half Highlights

• Toney led the charge for the Flames as the second half began.  She grabbed a steal and went coast to coast, and later had a three pointer and a layup on consecutive possessions.  Thanks to her offense, and good team defense highlighted by Gabryelle Johnson drawing a charge and forcing a held ball, the Flames took their largest lead of the game at 36-30.
• Loyola fought back, scoring the game's next 12 points.  Ellie Rice made two three-pointers including a buzzer beater, and Abby O'Connor had nine points in the third quarter to put the home team up by six with a quarter to go.
• Johnson made two layups, one on an offensive rebound, around a Teodora Zagorac three ball to pull UIC within one.  After Etheridge gave the Flames the lead on a long two point jumper, Tylah Lampley took the game over.
• Lampley scored eight straight Flames points on a variety of shots.  She had a steal-and-score, a three pointer, and a three point play on a runner.  After she converted the free throw, UIC was up by five points.
• The Flames then went cold, which proved costly as Loyola heated up.  The home team made three straight shots to pull even with 20 seconds to go.  With a chance to take the lead on a final shot, Taylor Toney was whistled for traveling.
• The Ramblers worked the ball inside as time ticked away.  Johnson knocked the ball away, but Tiara Wallace was there to grab the loose ball and make a layup with less than a second left.  UIC called timeout and advanced the ball to inbound in the frontcourt, but Loyola intercepted the pass and secured the win.

Facts and Figures

• Toney, the Flames' lone double-digit scorer, had her team-leading ninth such game of the season.
• Each team made 22 field goals; however UIC attempted 62 shots to Loyola's 49.
• Johnson, Zagorac, and Jada Nneji each had six rebounds to tie for team-high honors.
• Loyola minimized negative plays, committing 16 turnovers and 13 fouls.  Both are season lows for Flames opponents.
• UIC turned Loyola's 16 turnovers into 21 points.
• Catera Etheridge scored eight points after averaging 2.7 over the last three games.
• Lampley's eight points outpaced her season average of 4.8, but she was held without a rebound for the first time all year.

Up Next

• The Flames will get a week long break for Christmas.
• UIC's next game will be the Horizon League opener against IUPUI.
• Tipoff against the Jaguars will be at 3:00 pm December 30 at UIC Pavilion.