The game plan was simple for UIC in Thursday night's game against Robert Morris: Work the ball down low and try to wear down an undersized Eagles team.

The Flames had a decisive 68-16 edge on points in the paint and used a dominating second quarter to dispatch Robert Morris, 106-58.

It wasn't an easy start for the Flames, though.  UIC made a determined effort to get the ball into the post in the first quarter and stuck with that strategy even as the layups weren't falling.  The Flames missed six layups in the first four minutes and ended the period shooting just 7 for 19 in close, yet those seven field goals represented UIC's entire output from the field.  They added four free throws to make it 18-15 after one.

The shots started falling in the second quarter, as good ball movement and floor spacing made things click offensively for the Flames.  They had assists on seven of nine made layups in the second stanza and shot 45.5% from the floor after making just 7 of 23 shots in the first (30.4%).

Laura Litchfield made a steal and led the fast break, pulling up for a 16-footer that made the score 26-15 on UIC's first non-layup of the game.  They did have three layups in a 10-0 run that opened the second quarter, and ended the first half on a Litchfield layup that capped a 26-7 onslaught in the period.

Not to be outdone, the Flames' defense tightened up in the second quarter as well.  By halftime, UIC had attempted 15 more shots than Robert Morris (45-30) thanks to a 31-23 advantage on the glass and 12 forced turnovers.

UIC continued to widen the gap in the third quarter, which was highlighted offensively by steals and uncontested drives to the rim by Tylah Lampley on consecutive possessions.  Also in the third quarter, Terri Bender had three of her six steals to move into sixth place on the school's all-time list.  Bender is now just four behind fifth place Briana Hinkle.

Eleven Flames saw action and five of them scored in double digits, led by Kiki Bynes' career high 18.  Tyra Carlsten-Handberg scored all of her career high 16 in the fourth quarter.  Lampley and Gabryelle Johnson also had career highs with 14 and 12 respectively.  The Flames as a team had their best free throw shooting game of the season by far, knocking down 73.7% of their charity shots.

Amber Jennings paced the visitors with 14 points but made just three of 12 shots, emblematic of the Eagles' shooting woes as a team.  UIC held Robert Morris to 29% from the floor and outrebounded them 54-40.  Melita Emanuel-Carr's career high 11 boards led everyone.

The Flames will be back in action Saturday afternoon against IUPUI.  The last game of a four game opening homestand will tip off at 2:00 pm.