Jan. 15, 2009
Box Score
Valparaiso, Ind. - The UIC women's basketball team's four-game winning streak and perfect Horizon League record ended on Thursday night as Valparaiso inched past the Flames, 66-64, at the Athletics-Recreation Center.
Meghan Hutchens led UIC for the second straight game with 16 points.
Jessie Miller chipped in 12 points, while Shameia Green added 10 on the night. Jasmine Bailey pulled down a team-high nine rebounds.
Launa Hochstetler paced the Crusaders with 24 points.
UIC (9-5, 3-1) turned up the heat and nearly erased a 16-point deficit late in the second half on a 19-6 run with under a minute to play.
Down by five points with 22 seconds on the clock, Miller hit a three-pointer to get within two points.
Valpo (8-7, 3-2) then hit two free throws to regain a four-point lead following a UIC foul. Despite a long jumper from Green that was just inches short of a three-pointer, the Flames ran out of time.
"Life on the road is tough," said head coach Lisa Ryckbosch. "Valpo's a good team and we didn't rise up to the challenge. When we play an excellent team, we can't continue to make the same mistakes."
Valparaiso gained its first significant lead in the first half after the team drained 10 straight points for its first double-figure advantage.
Scoreless for over five minutes, Ashley Hluska ended Valpo's run with a jumper on UIC's next possession.
The Flames hit the final bucket of the first 20 minutes to trail 35-27 at intermission.
UIC continues on to Indianapolis, Ind. for a 1 p.m. matchup against Butler on Saturday, Jan. 17.
