Nov. 17, 2007
Box Score
Peoria, Ill. - An impressive second-half showing fell short on Saturday afternoon as the UIC women's basketball team was edged by Bradley, 69-62, at the Robertson Field House. Sophomore Jessie Miller powered UIC's comeback with 20 points.
Miller was 8-for-10 at the free throw line and totaled six rebounds. Junior Nikki Grobbecker pulled down a season-high 13 boards, while sophomore Briana Hinkle picked up 12 points. Freshman Cassie Johnson owned a season-best seven rebounds.
After suffering a broken nose in October, freshman Ashley Tomzik made her collegiate debut against the Braves. Sporting a face guard, Tomzik was 3-for-6 from the field and totaled six points.
Bradley had five players score in double figures with Jenny Van Kirk, Rachel Merriman, Monica Rogers and Raisa Taylor all notching 11 points each. Rogers picked up a double-double with a team-best 13 rebounds.
Bradley took an early lead in the first half on a 19-5 run (25-9). The Braves shot 48.5 percent from the field and were 4-for-5 from the free throw line to own a 17-point advantage at the half (38-21).
Merriman led Bradley after the first 20 minutes of play with eight points. The senior was 3-for-4 from the field and hit two treys. UIC's Miller totaled a team-best six points, while Meghan Hutchens paced the Flames on defense with five rebounds.
The Flames turned it around and got their offense rolling in the second half. UIC sparked a 6-0 run to get within 11 points (38-27). The Flames held the Braves to just one point in the first six minutes of play.
UIC slowly chipped away at the deficit, eventually cutting Bradley's lead to seven points at the 11:36 mark. With 4:53 remaining in the game, Miller drained a three-pointer to close the gap to six points (59-53).
With time running out, the Flames really stepped it up on both ends of the court. Hinkle got the Flames within three points with under two minutes on the clock on a quick layup, but the Braves held on for the win (69-62).
UIC returns to the Pavilion to host Eastern Illinois and Northern Illinois on Nov. 20 and 25.
