March 9, 2000

Box Score

Detroit, Mich. - The UIC women's basketball team exorcised a lot of demons with its 59-49 victory over Butler in the quarterfinal round of the 2000 MCC Tournament on Thursday afternoon in Detroit, Mich.

The win was the Flames' first over the Bulldogs since Dec. 19, 1988, a span of 13 games, and the first since UIC joined the MCC back in 1994.

The victory also pushed the Flames winning streak to seven games, the longest run since a nine-game streak during the 1979-80 season.

"We are aware of the our record against our opponents, but I don't want my players to focus on it," Head Coach Tim Eatman said after the game. "When you play for revenge, and go in with that frame of mind, you lose focus. We just wanted to come out and play the game right."

Melea Clark led three UIC players in double figures on Thursday, tabbing 18 points. Freshmen LeKesha Williams and Jaysie Chambers each added 11 with Chambers also leading the Flames with eight rebounds.

"Melea is a warrior," commented Eatman. "When the game is on the line I want the ball in her hands."

Despite MCC Newcomer of the Year Kimberly Henry playing only three minutes in the first half, after picking up two quick fouls, UIC took an eight-point lead (28-20) into intermission. Chambers and Erin Partaker picked up the slack as Chamber scored all 11 of her points in the period while Partaker score all seven of her points in the half as well.

The Bulldogs chipped away at the Flames' lead in the second half, closing within four (39-35) with 11:16 remaining on a three-pointer by Kristen Bodine. UIC stormed back, though, going on a 10-2 run over the next seven minutes to take a 49-37 lead at the 4:41 mark.

"I told them (at the half) we hadn't played our best basketball," stated Eatman. "We were up eight on Butler at the half in our last game with them and lost. In the second half, we focused and played better. We still haven't played our best basketball, though."

Butler would get as close as six (54-48) in the final moments, but Williams made 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch to preserve the Flames' victory.

Converting from the charity stripe was key, as UIC set season team-highs with 34 attempts and 26 made free throws. The Flames also outrebounded the Bulldogs (10-16), who finished first in the MCC in rebounding margin.

Fourth-seeded UIC will take on the top-seed, UW-Green Bay, in the semifinals of the MCC tournament tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. EST at Calihan Hall. The game will mark the Flames fourth-ever trip to a conference semifinal game with the last coming in 1996, where the a then #4 UIC team fell 68-46 to #1 UW-Green Bay in Green Bay, Wis.