The UIC Flames shot 50% and scored 47 points in the second half, their highest output in a Horizon League game this season, but it was not enough to overcome Valparaiso's big early lead, as the Crusaders captured a 72-63 win in the final game of the regular season.

UIC finished 2016-17 with a 5-24 overall record; 2-16 in the conference, which will stage its postseason tournament next weekend.  They did not record a road win in conference play this season.  Valpo improved to 9-20 and 4-14 in Horizon League play.

Faced with a 23 point deficit at halftime, the Flames started the second half with renewed energy.  Terri Bender made an aggressive drive and was rewarded with a layup, then later made a nice pass to Tyra Carlsten-Handberg who converted a runner in the lane.  Gabryelle Johnson scored on a nice up and under move, and the Flames got as close as 13 points thanks to a 14-4 run.  Then Valpo went on a mini 6-0 run to stretch their lead.  They got into the bonus and scored six points late in the period from the free throw line.

Brittany Byrd scored 14 points in the second half and finished with a team high 20.  Bender had 10 points after halftime.  The Flames took 38 shots in the final 20 minutes and hoisted 72 field goals overall, establishing a high in Horizon League play.

Bender finished with 13 points and four steals as the Flames outscored Valpo by 10 in the final quarter but could never get the deficit below 10 until Tylah Lampley's layup in the final seconds.  Lampley made her first three pointer of the season earlier in the fourth as she brought energy off the bench down the stretch.  Byrd led the Flames with nine rebounds.

Both teams struggled to fill the net in the early going, and UIC had an 8-5 edge in rebounds including six on the offensive end.  Bender made a reverse overhead layup to knot the score at five each, but then Valpo went on a big run.  Allison Schofield had back to back threes, and Dani Franklin added a layup and a three of her own to make it six straight makes.  The run would stretch to 17-0 before Byrd made a three pointer with just over a minute to go in the first quarter.

UIC's cold shooting carried over through the second quarter.  The Flames made only two baskets in the period.  They shot 15% in the first half as Valparaiso filled the nets at a 50% clip, including making 6 of 13 three pointers.  The Crusaders took a 39-16 lead at the break, holding the Flames to their lowest point total in any half this year.

Franklin was the game's high scorer with 24 points.  The Flames tied their season high with 21 steals.  UIC will enter the Horizon League Tournament as the #10 seed and will face #7 Northern Kentucky at 11:00 am Friday, March 3.