CHICAGO – The UIC women's basketball team (2-10, 0-1 HL) made its Horizon League debut on Friday evening at home, falling 67-49 to Northern Kentucky (2-9, 1-0 HL). The Flames were kept in the single digits in the second and third quarters, allowing the Norse to take a commanding lead for the remainder of the game.

First Half Highlights

• Neither team scored in the first two minutes thanks to turnovers on both ends, but Brittany Byrd got one in on the second chance to get UIC on the board first.
• Kiarra Thompson put in a long ball for three from the right side and then sank an under-the-basket layup after the Norse's first score. Tylah Lampley mirrored Thompson with a layup, putting the Flames up by four, 9-5.  
• Back-to-back threes gave the visitors the lead, 11-9, and a later 5-0 run grew the lead, 16-10. A steal turned layup for Tia Tedford put a stop to the streak to finish out the quarter with the Flames trailing by four, 16-12.
• The Flames were held without a field goal through the first five minutes of the second quarter, surviving off a free-throw from Kara Wilson. Catera Etheridge broke the offensive spell with a jumper in the paint, 21-15.
• A drive in from Jasmine Gaines and aggressive defense from Tylah Lampley gave the Flames four more, as they headed into the locker room trailing by nine, 30-21.

Second Half Highlights

• The Norse took eight to start the second half, pushing their lead into double figures, 38-21. Jada Nneji and Byrd both laid one up to cut at the gap, but the Flames finished the third quarter with just six points, putting NKU even further out, 45-27.
• Both teams put up 22 points in the fourth quarter, the most for either bench, but it wasn't enough for UIC as it fell 67-49.

Facts & Figures

• Tylah Lampley came off the bench for the Flames to lead the offense with 16 points. It was the third time Lampley has scored in double figures this season.
• Brittany Byrd followed with 14 points, marking her seventh-straight double-digit performance.
• Jada Nneji blocked a career-high six for the Flames defense, the most by a single player since Ruvanna Campbell stopped six on Feb. 28, 2015 against Oakland.
• Lampley also paced the Flames with five rebounds. Kara Wilson and Nneji rebounded three apiece.
• The Flames stole 11 balls from the Norse, their fifth contest stealing in double figures this season.
• The two teams were even in attempts, but the Norse were more efficient, making 43.9 percent of all shots compared to 37.5 percent for the Flames.
• The Norse were also aided by a 45 percent showing from beyond the arc.
• The Flames netted 16 points off 19 Norse turnovers. UIC coughed up the ball 17 times, leading to 13 points for NKU.
• UIC scored more in the paint, 32-28, and off the fast break, 12-7. The Norse bench was stronger, 41-26.

Up Next

• The two-game homestand wraps up on Sunday, Dec. 30 with Wright State.

Highlights