Box Score Feb. 4, 2016
CHICAGO - Freshman Brittany Byrd scored a career high 15 points off the bench but it wasn't enough as UIC (11-10, 2-8 HL) opened the second half of Horizon League action with a 72-61 loss to Northern Kentucky (13-8, 5-5 HL) at the UIC Pavilion. The loss snapped the Flames two-game win streak.
From the opening tip the Flames found themselves playing from behind as Northern Kentucky never trailed in the game. UIC managed to tie the game at 6-6 before the Norse went on a 12-2 run to close the period with a 20-15 lead. In the second period NKU took advantage of UIC's three-minute scoring drought and connected on six of seven shots to take a 41-26 lead into halftime.
"We didn't defend well enough in the first half, we gave up second shot opportunities and they capitalized on them," said head coach Regina Miller. "NKU built an early lead which forced us to play the entire game from behind. They are much improved from the first time we played them."
The Flames began the third period missing their first six shot attempts and NKU extended the lead to 20 points (largest margin). After an official's review at the 6:45 mark of the third period, the Flames found the shooting touch and went on a 19-7 run to cut the deficit to nine points. Kendyl Nunn (18 points) scored 14 of UIC's 19 points in the period, going 4-5 from beyond the arc.
"Kendyl hit some shots that were momentum changers, unfortunately we disrupted that momentum by fouling and putting them on the line," said Miller.
In the fourth period, Brittany Byrd connected on back-to-back three pointers to slice the NKU lead to eight, the closest UIC would get in the game. Ruvanna Campbell notched her 14th double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds. As a team the Flames shot 50% (7-14) from three-point line in the second half and 47% (9-19) for the game.
UIC Assists: The Flames never lead in the game ... UIC had 23 offensive rebounds ... Imani Moore and Melita Emanuel-Carr fouled out for the second and third time this season ... UIC is 4-2 when allowing opponents to score 70 or more points.
