ROCHESTER, Mich. – The UIC women's basketball team (7-19, 0-15 HL) took a 95-78 loss on Saturday afternoon against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies (12-14, 5-10 HL). The Flames had four out of their five freshmen record season-high points, and also ended the game with four players in double figures, but were ultimately unable to stop a strong Oakland offense.

First Half Highlights

• In Oakland's first possession, Tia Tedford swatted the ball out of the Golden Grizzlies hands, and handed it off to Teodora Zagorac, who passed it to Catera Etheridge out on the left wing who put in in for three. The Flames went on to lead 5-0, but Oakland recorded a three and a steal of their own, which they ran back for two to tie it.
• The Golden Grizzlies continued to surge, putting up another four to make it a 9-0 run. The Flames came within two off foul shots on two occasions, but were unable to put in a field goal, resulting in a 14-9 lead for Oakland.
• Buckets from Etheridge and Jada Nneji once again had UIC one possession away, and continued success from the line allowed the Flames to go on a 6-0 run to tie it at 15 apiece. The Golden Grizzlies took ten unanswered points in the final two minutes of the first quarter to surge ahead 25-15 at the end of the first 10 minutes.
• Both teams were sluggish to start the second period, and turnovers were telling the story, with both teams combining for 10 miscues in the first four minutes.
• Trailing 30-17, Taylor Toney ended a 2:39 scoring drought for the Flames with a layup, but a pair of Oakland threes extended its lead, 36-19. Following Toney's layup, UIC was without a field goal until for nearly another three minutes, until Kara Wilson drove in for a layup using fancy footwork to step around the defender, 38-22.
• Tedford sank a pair of threes in the final 1:30 of the half, but the Flames headed into the locker room facing a 45-28 deficit after 20 minutes.

Second Half Highlights

• Tia Tedford kept the triples coming, starting all scoring in the second half with another, and was the first Flame to reach double-digits. The Golden Grizzlies quickly put up a pair of triples as part of a 13-0 run, extending the lead, 58-31.
• Trailing 67-39, the Flames put together six-straight, 45-67, but Oakland's ninth trey put a stop to the streak, 70-45.
• ­The Flames put together 20 points in the third quarter, but the Golden Grizzlies were at 20 plus for the third-straight quarter, putting up 28 for a 73-48 lead heading into the final 10 minutes.
• UIC opened up the final frame with a 12-2 streak to bring the deficit back under 20, 75-60, but Oakland raced off to a 13-2 run of their own, 88-62.
• The Flames netted 30 points in the fourth quarter, their highest of the afternoon, but the Golden Grizzlies ended the afternoon with 20-plus points in all four quarters to hand UIC a 95-78 loss.

Facts and Figures

• Gabryelle Johnson and Taylor Toney brought in 16 points apiece to lead the Flames offense, while also adding eight and six rebounds, respectively.
• Tia Tedford matched her career-best mark with 15 points, while also stealing a career-high seven.
• Jada Nneji put up a career-high 10, and was close to a double-double with eight rebounds, six of which were offensive.
• Abreanna Lake posted a career-best eight points, while also dishing out a career-best nine assists, making her the first Flame to record eight or more assists since all-time assists leader Terri Bender had eight on Feb. 4, 2017 against Youngstown State.
• Kara Wilson wrapped up the freshman success with a career-best six points, while grabbing a career-best seven boards.
• The Flames shot 41.9 percent from the field, their highest total since Jan. 6 at Cleveland State, but were still outshot by the Golden Grizzlies, who shot 47.1 percent overall. Oakland was also more successful beyond the arc, sinking 42.3 percent (11-for-26) of all threes compared to 21. Percent for UIC (4-for-19).
• Both teams were guilty of high turnovers, with UIC committing 30 and Oakland tallying 28, but the Golden Grizzlies turned the Flames' miscues into 36 points, while UIC turned Oakland's turnovers into 24 points.
• Oakland out-rebounded UIC 49-40, but the Golden Grizzlies only had a slight edge in offensive boards, 18-17. The Flames were stronger in second chance points, 19-11.
• UIC was also stronger in the paint, 44-40, but Oakland was able to put up 28 points off the fast break, compared to just seven for the Flames.
• High freshmen production led to 24 points off the bench for UIC, while the Golden Grizzlies' bench put up just eight.

Up Next

• The Flames will play their remaining three games of the regular season at home inside the UIC Pavilion.
• The final homestand begins on Monday, Feb. 19 with a dual against Green Bay. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT.