Feb. 12, 2009
Box Score
Chicago, Ill. - A physical defensive effort from visiting Butler never allowed the UIC women's basketball team to get into an offensive rhythm on Thursday night as the Bulldogs earned a 68-49 victory over the Flames at the UIC Pavilion.
For the eighth time in Horizon League play this season, Butler (15-8, 10-2) held its opposition to under 50 points. The Bulldogs outworked UIC (12-10, 6-5), the league's top rebounding team, on the boards by a 40-31 margin and turned 19 Flames turnovers into 24 points.
"When you turn the ball over the way we did, especially in the first half, it is really hard to run offense," head coach Lisa Ryckbosch said. "Their defense really made us work."
Junior Jessie Miller was the lone UIC player to score in double figures with 15 points. Junior Cassie Johnson chipped in with eight points and a team-high eight rebounds.
Forwards Susan Lester and Melanie Thornton controlled the paint for Butler as each posted a double-double. Lester finished with 20 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Thornton came off the bench and added 12 points and 10 boards.
Brittany Bowen led all scorers with 22 points, connecting on 8-of-10 shots from the field for the Bulldogs.
UIC, which never led in the ballgame, trailed 35-22 at halftime. Butler would quickly build its lead up to 18 points before a 10-0 Flames run got UIC back in the game, 42-34, with 14:26 left.
The Flames would have a chance to cut into that eight-point deficit, but failed to convert on three successive possessions. The Bulldogs then answered with a 16-5 run of their own over the next six minutes to put the game out of reach.
UIC will be back in action on Saturday when it welcomes Valparaiso to the UIC Pavilion at 7 p.m.
