Jan. 11, 2001

Box Score

Chicago, Ill. - Senior Kimberly Henry poured in 21 points and the UIC women's basketball team shot a season-high 51% from the field as they opened Midwestern Collegiate Conference play with a 63-55 triumph over Wright State Thursday night at the UIC Pavilion.

"It's great to win and it's a good way to start conference," commented head coach Tim Eatman. "You have to take care of your home court if you want to win conference."

The Flames, who have now won six of their last seven league openers, improved to 4-10 on the year and have now won back-to-back games for the first time this season.

After falling behind by three (19-16) mid-way through the first half, UIC began to find its stride as it went on a 14-2 run to close out the stanza to take a 30-21 lead into intermission.

The Flames carried that offensive surge into the second period as they opened the half with a Melea Clark jumper and two Henry free throws to take a 13-point advantage (34-21), their biggest lead of the game.

Mandy Jelinek and Iesha Gray led Wright State back, though, as the duo combined for 14 of the Raiders' 16 points in a 16-7 run that pulled the visitors to within four (41-37). WSU would later inch even closer as a lay-up by Chanda Hollingsworth with 8:47 left pulled her team within one (47-46).

With its lead quickly withering, UIC called upon Henry to carry the load. The senior responded as she scored on back-to-back trips down the floor to put the Flames back up five (51-46). Then, with the defense collapsing on her, UIC found Amanda Bartz wide open for a pair of treys that capped a 10-1 run that put the Flames up for good, 57-47.

Henry was one of two Flames to finish in double figures on the night as Melea Clark, UIC's leading scorer, chipped in with 13 points. Stephanie Jost led the team with four rebounds.

Hollingsworth (14 points, 7 rebounds) and Gray (13 points) paced Wright State while UIC held the MCC's leading scorer, Reggen Stewart (16.1 ppg), to just six points.

The Flames' hot shooting - 51% for the game and 63% in the second half - helped them erase a huge disparity on the boards. The Raiders (3-11, 0-1 MCC) dominated the glass, corralling 38 rebounds to UIC's 26 and outrebounding the Flames 16-5 on the offensive end.

UIC will look for its first-ever 2-0 start in the MCC when they welcome Butler to the UIC Pavilion on Saturday, Jan. 13, at 4:30 p.m.