Box Score Dec. 5, 2015 Final Stats
Peoria, Ill. - UIC (5-1) posted their third straight comeback win in the fourth quarter to down Bradley 66-56 on Saturday afternoon in Peoria, Ill. The Flames used a 25-11 fourth quarter outburst in route to their third road win of the season.
From the opening tip, Bradley jumped out to a fast start using a 9-0 run and forced UIC into eight turnovers. UIC would regroup following the media timeout, shooting 50 % (5-10) from the floor to close the gap to 16-12 after the first quarter. Bradley would increase their lead to nine points during the second quarter but the Flames clawed back to cut the lead to two points with 7:19 left.
UIC would head into the locker room trailing 32-28 at the half.
"We had a good week of practice, I don't think we played poorly," said head coach Regina Miller. "Bradley came out and started strong they hit some threes out the gate and played aggressive. "We matched their intensity but had a lot of unforced turnovers."
Ruvanna Campbell scored the first two baskets for UIC in the second half to tie the game at 32-32, but Bradley used an 11-2 run to take a 43-34 lead with six minutes remaining in the third quarter. Campbell finished with 24 points, eight rebounds and five steals. After the media timeout UIC went on a 7-2 run to draw to 45-41 at the end of three quarters.
Marissa Grossfeld came off the bench to score two quick layups as the lead would change hands four times in the fourth quarter. Grossfeld scored all nine of her points in the quarter. Freshman Taylor Toney also contributed on the defensive end with four rebounds (three defensive) and two steals.
"It was a great overall team effort. Taylor gave us a good lift off the bench, she was the unsung hero with hustle plays [defending and rebounding]. "We dug in and went with man-to-man defensive down the stretch and wore them down."
The Flames trailed for nearly 30 minutes of the contest, taking their first lead of the game at 51-50 with 5:49 remaining in the fourth quarter on two free throws by Imani Moore. It was UIC's first lead since the opening tip at 2-0. The Flames used an 8-0 outburst to stretch their lead to as many as 13 points in the period.
"It was a great overall team effort as we are still playing around with lineups," said Miller.
UIC will return to action on Saturday, Dec. 12 against Western Illinois at 4:30 pm CT in Macomb, Ill.
Notes: Flames snapped a nine-game losing streak at Bradley ... the 5-1 start matches the team's start from last season ... UIC shot 1-11 (9.1%) from three point range ... was UIC's fourth road contest in last five games (UIC 3-1) ... Kendyl Nunn (13 points) has scored in double figures in five of six games ... Ruvanna Campbell had a team-high five steals ... Taylor Toney played a career high 16 minutes.
