HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The UIC women's basketball team (7-12, 0-8 HL) suffered a 61-53 overtime loss to Horizon League-foe Northern Kentucky (5-14, 3-5 HL) Sunday afternoon in the BB&T Arena. The Flames led by as many as 19 late in the third quarter, but committed several costly turnovers in the fourth and overtime periods that led to their demise.

Taylor Toney turned in her third double-double of the season and sixth of her career with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Brittany Byrd tabbed 19 points to lead the Flames.

First Half Highlights

• The Norse got the first bucket of the game on their first possession for an early 2-0 lead.
• Taylor Toney got the Flames on the board shortly after, sinking a jumper right off the inbounds pass.
• Northern Kentucky led 6-2, and the Flames were able to come within one, but the Norse sunk a triple to create space, 9-5.
• Trailing 11-7, Gabryelle Johnson put in a spin around layup in for two to put the Flames within one basket, 11-9, and Toney tied it up on the next possession with a layup of her own.
• The Flames continued driving to the hoop, as Johnson put in a short jumper to give UIC its first lead, 13-11.
• The lead changed with nine seconds left in the first, as the Norse were able to put together two unanswered baskets to end the first quarter, creating a 15-13 lead.
• Brittany Byrd sank a three at the 7:17 mark for the first point on either side to put UIC back ahead, 16-15. The Flames forced a turnover at NKU's next possession put it into the hands of Byrd who laid it up to quickly extend the lead to three, 18-15.
• UIC's lead grew to seven, 22-15, as it kept the Norse offense silent for nearly the first seven minutes of the second quarter.
• The Norse came up with three, but Byrd quickly replaced those points with a shot beyond the arc on the right side to allow the Flames head to the locker room with a 25-18 cushion at the half.

Second Half Highlights

• Brittany Byrd continued to produce for the Flames, scoring first in the half for either team.
• On the next Norse possession, Byrd thieved the ball and ran it back, growing UIC's lead to 11, 29-18. The Flames continued to press the Norse, forcing turnovers and fighting for defensive rebounds to keep NKU scoreless for 7:19 and establish its largest lead at that point, 35-18.
• Byrd forced another steal and ran it back again, as the Flames lead grew to 18, 41-33.
• The third quarter ended with a Norse buzzer beater, but UIC still held a 43-26 lead heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
• The Flames offense sputtered in the fourth, allowing the Norse to start the fourth quarter with 12-3 run. UIC shot just 14 percent in the first eight minutes, while NKU trimmed down the lead to six, 46-40.
• NKU forced 12 turnovers in the fourth quarter alone, as the Flames had committed just 10 in the first three quarters combined. With just over 33 seconds remaining, the Norse came with in a basket, 48-46.
• A trip to the charity stripe for Catera Etheridge gave UIC a four-point buffer, but the Norse were able to tie it at 50 with four free throws.

Overtime Highlights

• Tied at 51, the Norse completed a simple bounce pass to layup for a 53-51 lead.  
• NKU put together a pair of layups to grab a four-point lead in the last minute of overtime, 57-53.
• The Flames had a chance for a basket, but a long pass was misjudged, and the Norse ran it back for a bucket, 59-53. UIC committed another turnover, which NKU took advantage of again, securing a 61-53 win for the home team.  

Facts and Figures

• Gabryelle Johnson was close to a double-double with nine rebounds and eight points.
• Catera Etheridge tied her career-high with five assists, while also pouring in seven points.
• In addition to her double-double, Toney also tabbed five steals.
• UIC's best shooting came in the third quarter at 42.1 percent, compared to just 20 percent in the fourth, its worst quarter.
• NKU was held to just 8.3 percent in the second quarter, and 18.2 percent in the third, but its 46.2 percent showing in the fourth allowed the Norse to close in on the Flames.
• The Flames attempted 62 points to the Norse's 58, but NKU ended up the more efficient contender, shooting 36.2 percent from the floor overall to UIC's 32.3 percent.
• UIC's 28 turnovers led to 28 points for the Norse, while the Flames put in 20 off 20 Norse turnovers.

Up Next

• The road trip continues next weekend, as the Flames travel north to take on Green Bay and Milwaukee.
• UIC and Green Bay tipoff on Friday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. CT, while the Flames and Milwaukee will battle on Sunday, Jan. 28 at 2 p.m.