Jan. 15, 2000

Box Score

Indianapolis, Ind. ? Clutch second-half free throw shooting, strong rebounding and a questionable call late in the game helped Butler slip past UIC, 79-73, Saturday afternoon at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

The Bulldogs (7-7, 3-0 MCC) were 21-of-22 (95%) from the charity stripe in the final 20 minutes and 28-of-31 (90%) for the game. Butler scored its last 17 points from the free throw line. They also owned the boards, outrebounding the Flames 44-24 overall and 17-4 on the offensive end.

Through it all, UIC (6-9, 1-1 MCC) found itself down just a pair, 70-68, with 0:38 left in the game, when Consuela Hall was whistled for a phantom foul as Butler?s Alison Edgar slipped on the baseline with the shot clock about to expire.

Edgar made both free throws after the foul, putting the Bulldogs up for good.

The loss spoiled a career-high 26-point performance from Kimberly Henry. Henry and fellow junior Melea Clark combined for 46 points, including 25 of the Flames? 33 first-half points.

UIC trailed by three (36-33) at the half and saw the deficit grow to seven (58-51) early in the second stanza. The Flames rallied, though, going on a 10-2 run and eventually taking the lead, 61-60, on a three-pointer from Amanda Bartz with 4:31 left.

Butler answered UIC?s run, reeling off the next six points keyed by a baseline jumper from Valerie Burg that gave the Bulldogs the lead for good.

The Flames are back in action on Thursday, Jan. 20, when they welcome Detroit to the UIC Pavilion at 7:00 p.m.