The UIC Flames (4-20, 1-12 HL) battled back valiantly from a 36-18 halftime deficit, pulling to within seven points in the fourth quarter.  But Northern Kentucky (8-16, 4-8 HL) played with poise down the stretch and captured a 66-49 win in Horizon League play at BB&T Arena Thursday afternoon.

The game was even through much of the first quarter.  Catera Etheridge, making just her seventh start of the year, made a couple of medium range shots in the first few minutes.  A baby hook shot by Terri Bender and a Brittany Byrd make gave UIC a 12-11 lead with 90 seconds to go.  Northern Kentucky played some explosive basketball in that last minute and a half, ending the period on a 6-0 run thanks to five of Kasey Uetrecht's nine first quarter points.

UIC played better on the defensive end at the beginning of the second quarter.  They didn't allow a Norse field goal for the first 4:05, as Gabryelle Johnson's stout post presence forced a travel, and later the Flames harassed NKU into a shot clock violation.  Once they did score, however, the floodgates opened.  Kelley Wiegman made two 3-pointers as part of a 16-2 run.  The Flames made just three of 10 shots in the quarter and committed six turnovers.  The Norse lead was 36-18 at the break, and a repeat of the teams' first encounter, won by Northern Kentucky 58-37, seemed imminent.

Brittany Byrd had other plans.  She began the second half with a steal and a drive to the basket, drawing an and-one, and then got an easier layup off an outlet pass which forced Northern Kentucky to take a quick timeout.  Taylor Toney made her mark when action resumed.  She grabbed one of her four steals and earned a trip to the free throw line.  Seconds later, she knifed right down the lane for two more of her team high 17 points.

Byrd had consecutive three-pointers to pull the Flames within single digits for the first time since the first half.  Northern Kentucky stemmed the tide with a 7-0 run late in the third quarter, but Johnson drew a charge and made a layup as time expired to set the Flames up for a fourth quarter comeback.

Terri Bender, quiet for much of the game after a 17 point performance last time out, grabbed an offensive rebound and converted an 8-footer, and then made a nice pass to Johnson for a layup for one of her game high five assists.  When Toney picked off a pass and coasted to the rim, the Flames trailed by only seven points, 52-45, with six minutes to play.

Northern Kentucky called timeout, and whatever was said in the team's huddle paid immediate dividends.  They scored six straight points, keeping UIC off the scoreboard for nearly four crucial minutes.  Toney fouled out with 1:37 to go, and the ensuing free throws gave NKU a 14 point lead and rendered the ending academic.

Toney was the only Flame beside Byrd to score in double figures, with 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting.  Byrd's eight rebounds were a team high.  Uetrecht finished with 20 points, and Mikayla Terry scored 16 and had 10 rebounds.  The Norse were 18-of-23 at the free throw line.  UIC made only three of 11 free throws after three straight games where they had excelled there.  NKU was 6-for-15 on three pointers, but the timing of their makes proved more dangerous than the quantity.  The Flames shot 57% inside the arc, but made just two of 13 from distance.

The Flames will conclude their road trip Saturday afternoon at league leading Wright State.