UIC's women's basketball team jumped out to a big lead early and never looked back, topping Governors State 82-36 in exhibition action Thursday evening at UIC Pavilion.

Brittany Byrd led the team with 15 points and eight rebounds.  Teodora Zagorac had 13 points on 5-for-5 shooting, and Tylah Lampley added 12.

First Half Highlights

• UIC started the game on an 18-4 run, making 8 of 12 field goals.  By the time Brittany Byrd made her second three-pointer with 5:09 to go, the Flames had a lead they would never relinquish.
• Late in the first half, Tylah Lampley grabbed an offensive rebound and made the stickback to push the score to 24-8.  Right after that, Jada Nneji made a steal and dropped a nice pass to Lampley for another easy bucket.
• Governors State scored the first four points of the second quarter.  The Flames pressed on an inbound play and Nneji deflected the ball to Kiarra Thompson, whose layup stopped the modest run.
• Kara Wilson scored her first basket when she and Taylor Toney applied defensive pressure to force a turnover and then ran a two person fast break to perfection, making the score 36-12.

Second Half Highlights

• Midway through the third period the Jaguars put together a 6-0 run.  The Flames squashed it with effort on both ends.  After a free throw, they forced a shot clock violation, and then Zagorac dished to Gabryelle Johnson for an easy layup.  Johnson followed with a steal, leading to a three pointer by Tia Tedford.
• The Flames' freshmen put an imprint on the final stages of the third quarter.  Abreanna Lake found Nneji, who made a drop step layup.  Nneji then blocked a shot, and Lake contributed a rebound.
• Deja Anderson-Fitzell entered in the fourth quarter.  She blocked a shot and eventually was rewarded with a layup on the ensuing possession.
• The Flames ended the game on a 14-4 run.

Facts and Figures

• Zagorac needed just six minutes to reach double figures.  She made all five of her shots and three of four free throws to finish with 13 points.
• The Flames exploited their size advantage, wore down the undermanned Jaguars throughout the contest, and finished with a 49-33 rebounding advantage.
• Nneji had five of the team's 18 steals, part of 30 Jaguar turnovers that led to 29 Flames points.
• Every Flame got playing time; all but Lake and Desiree Jackson made at least one shot, and all 14 players had at least one rebound.
• Governors State started 0-for-7 from 3 point range and finished the game making just two of 15 treys.

Up Next

• The regular season begins November 10.
• The Flames begin the 2017-18 campaign with a noon contest against Bethel at UIC Pavilion.

Postgame Reaction

• Teodora Zagorac