Jan. 15, 2015
Box Score
DETROIT - The UIC women's basketball team (11-5, 1-2 HL) outscored Detroit (6-10, 1-2 HL) by six in the second half but could not overcome a slow start Thursday night in a 70-65 defeat to the Titans. UDM shot 50 percent in the first half and 45 percent for the game, including 41 percent from downtown (7-of-17).
UIC set season highs in rebounds (55), field goal attempts (78), three-point attempts (22) and free-throw percentage (.750). The Flames outrebounded the Titans by 24 (55-31) and had 27 offensive rebounds, the second highest total this season behind the 30 they grabbed against Chicago State (Dec. 16). However, UIC was held to 32 percent shooting (25-of-78), including 24 percent in the first half (10-of-41).
Detroit's 25 field goals are a UIC opponent season high and the Titans 70 points are the second most given up by the Flames this season. UIC blocked a season-slow one shot and forced a season-low 10 turnovers.
"Getting behind 12 early was difficult to overcome," said UIC head coach Regina Miller. "I thought we bounced back to control play until the final minutes when we missed many easy looks. We gave Detroit too many good looks and they converted a lot of those open shots. Fortunately, we have another opportunity to pick up an important road win Saturday at Oakland."
Melita Emanuel-Carr set a career high with 22 points, including 11 in the first half. She was 9-of-17 from the field and converted 4-of-9 attempts from beyond the arc. Over the last 11 contests, Emanuel-Carr has made 44 percent of her three-point attempts.
Ruvanna Campbell grabbed 21 rebounds for her fourth career 20-plus rebounding effort. Campbell, who ranks third nationally in rebounds, has collected 40 rebounds over the last two games. She also scored nine points and dished out three assists.
Terri Bender scored 17 points for her sixth straight double-figure performance. She also picked up a team-high three steals to increase her season total to 50, which ranks ninth in the nation.
Kendyl Nunn scored 10 points in 23 minutes off the bench. She owns three double-digit efforts over the last four contests. Nunn was a career-high 4-of-5 from the free throw line.
Emanuel-Carr drained a three-pointer to open the contest before UDM went on a 15-0 run. The Titans held their largest lead of the game at 31-16 with 4:54 left in the first half and led 38-27 at halftime.
Detroit led 49-36 on Ellisha Crosby's jumper with 15:27 remaining. The Flames responded with a 9-0 run to trim the Titans' lead to 49-45 and Emanuel-Carr's jumper at 12:48 made the score 51-47. Detroit followed with an 8-0 run and UIC never got within four the rest of the way.
UIC concludes its swing through Michigan with a Saturday contest at Oakland (8-7, 2-0 HL). Tip-off with the Golden Grizzlies inside the Athletics Center O'rena is set for 3 pm CT. Oakland improved to 2-0 in Horizon League play with a 71-54 victory at Valparaiso Thursday night.
