Nov. 9, 2005
Box Score
Chicago, Ill. - Despite a game-high 27 points from junior LaShonda Grant, the UIC women's basketball team fell just short in its final dress rehearsal for the 2005-06 season as the visiting Chicago Challengers edged the Flames 90-86 at the UIC Pavilion on Wednesday night.
UIC now looks ahead to the start of the regular season, which opens on Friday, November 18th at Bradley.
Grant, a preseason All-Horizon League First Team honoree and the team's top returning scorer, netted four three-pointers and was 10-of-23 from the field en route to her final point total versus the Challengers. The 5-foot-6 guard also added five rebounds and three assists in defeat.
Grant was one of just three lethal offensive weapons for the Flames on this night, though, as senior Chrissy Dizon poured in 17 points while junior Krystal Hugelier chipped in with 16.
The Challengers, whose roster features a wealth of former college standouts, were paced to victory behind five players in double figures, led by Kristi Faulkner's 26 points.
UIC shot 47% from the field in the opening 20 minutes, but six three-pointers and a 23-12 rebounding edge in the first half helped stake the Challengers to an eight-point cushion at intermission, 47-39.
The Flames would turn up the heat in the second half, erasing the Challengers' advantage behind the hot hands of Grant and Dizon.
UIC owned an 80-78 lead with 4:55 left, but the Challengers had one final surge left in the tank, going on a 12-4 run over the next four minutes to open up a six-point lead they would not relinquish.
