CHICAGO – The UIC women's basketball team (7-16, 0-12 HL) returned home for the first time in three weeks and were defeated 64-42 by Cleveland State (17-7, 9-4 HL). Taylor Toney tabbed her fourth double-double of the season, leading the Flames with 12 points while also rebounding a career-high 14.

The Vikings held UIC to a season-low 25 percent field goal percentage, while making 41.3 percent of all shots on their own.

First Half Highlights

• Cleveland State built a 9-0 lead to start the first quarter, and it was Taylor Toney who go the Flames on the board at the 5:45 mark. Toney's basket gave way to a 6-0 run for the Flames, who eventually came within a basket, 10-8.
• The Vikings took the next four to create some room, 14-8, and Gabryelle Johnson sank a pair of freebies to end the first quarter 14-10 in favor of the visitors.
• The second quarter started similarly to the first, with Cleveland State streaking to a 22-10 lead. Catera Etheridge put in a jumper, but not before a little over three minutes had elapsed in the period.
• UIC's next points didn't come until the 2:45 mark, a jumper at the hands of Tylah Lampley, but the Vikings were having shooting woes of their own, remaining scoreless for over three minutes.
• A three-pointer snapped the Vikings' skid, but it would be CSU's final score of the half. Lampley put in another bucket and Teodora Zagorac went 1-for-2 from the line to finish the half, but the Flames' deficit remained in the double-digits at the half, 28-17.
• The two teams got their points in different ways, with most of UIC's points coming in the paint (12), and Cleveland taking 15 of its 28 points from beyond the arc.

Second Half Highlights

• Cleveland State started the second half off with a bang, taking five points off a three and a stolen layup, all at the hands of its leading scorer, Ashanti Abshaw.
• Taylor Toney tried to get things going for UIC with a jump shot, but the Flames were unable to register another field goal for the next 3:53. Thankfully, the Vikings were also 0-for-5 in that span. Both teams' shooting picked up the pace in the back half of the third quarter, but UIC was still facing a 45-29 hole late in the frame.
• Trailing 47-31 at the start of the final ten minutes, the Flames once again experienced shooting woes to begin the quarter, not putting in a field goal until the clock struck four minutes to go. Toney thieved the ball on the next possession and ran it back for a layup but Cleveland State had already created a 57-36 lead.
• Jada Nneji took over for UIC, putting in a jumper and drawing a trio of fouls for six points within less than a minute.
• The Vikings final points came off foul shots as well, and the visitors took it by a final score of 64-42.

Facts and Figures

• Taylor Toney's 12-point effort marked her fifth-straight game in double figures, and her 19th on the season. Toney also assisted on four.
• Jada Nneji matched her career-high mark with seven points, while also adding three rebounds and a steal.
• Gabryelle Johnson also turned in seven points, with four rebounds and two steals to accompany them.
• Tia Teford returned to the lineup for the first time since Jan. 13, and recorded a career-best four steals.
• Tylah Lampley was back in the starting five and added six points alongside a pair of defensive boards.
• Teodora Zagorac put in another solid effort on the boards for UIC, recording seven rebounds.
• UIC's bench contributed 14 points, its highest total since the last time the Flames and Vikings met on Jan. 6. UIC's bench also out-scored CSU's 14-11.
• The Flames were also better in the paint, outscoring Cleveland State 24-20. UIC also had more second chance points, grabbing eight to the Vikings' two.
• The home team committed 20 turnovers to CSU's 22. The Flames were able to turn those into 18 points while the visitors netted 15 off miscues.

Up Next

• The Flames wrap up their two-game home stand on Saturday, Feb. 10 against Youngstown State. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT.

Highlights