CHICAGO – The UIC women's basketball team (2-11, 0-2 HL) was bested by the Raiders of Wright State (10-4, 2-0 HL) on Sunday afternoon, 79-46. Senior Brittany Byrd dominated all players despite the outcome, recording her third double-double of the season with game highs in both points (29) and rebounds (10).

First Half Highlights

• The visitors opened up the game with a 5-0 run, but Byrd came back with four for the Flames off a layup and a steal converted for two foul shots. Byrd came through again in the next possession, sinking a three to tie the game at seven.
• Three turnovers allowed the Raiders to go up by two possessions, 12-8, but another triple from Byrd put UIC back within one, 12-11. Two free throws at the hands of Kierra James put the Flames up by one, 13-12.
• A 0-of-4 field goal drought for the Raiders ended with a layup to put the lead back in their hands, but a last minute three from Byrd ended the first quarter with the Flames on top, 16-14.
• The Raiders erupted with a 10-0 run to start the second quarter, 24-16. Byrd pushed through the defense and found the hoop for a pair of layups, 24-20, but three turnovers and 0-of-4 shooting in the next five minutes allowed Wright State to go on another 10-0 streak, 34-20.
• Byrd drilled a jumper in the paint to end the half with the Flames trailing by 12, 34-22. Byrd finished the first half with 20 of UIC's 22 points to lead all scorers.  

Second Half Highlights

• It was Byrd again making the first basket of the second half, but the Raiders took the next nine to increase the lead, 43-24. A pair of threes from Wright State's Anisja Harris pushed the lead past 20, 49-28.
• Catera Etheridge and Kiarra Thompson combined for the Flames' next 10 points, and Byrd ended the quarter going 3-of-4 from the charity stripe, but the Raiders still had a comfortable 51-37 lead heading into the fourth.
• Wright State had its best offensive turnout in the fourth, posting 28 points to UIC's nine in route to a 79-46 win for the Raiders.  

Facts & Figures

• Brittany Byrd's 29 points were her most this season, rewriting her previous record of 28 points, which she set in the opener against Valparaiso. The senior has scored in double figures in her last eight games.
• Jada Nneji matched her season best with 10 rebounds, her second double-digit rebounding effort this season.
• Catera Etheridge posted eight points and three rebounds on offense, while stealing two for the defense.
• Kiarra Thompson brought in six points while also handing out a career-high six assists. The sophomore also brought in four rebounds and made two thefts.
• The Flames were kept to just 25.9 percent from the field, while Wright State sank 42.3 percent of all their shots. Wright State was also stronger beyond the arc, making 36.1 percent of their threes compared to 25 percent for UIC.
• The two teams were close in rebounds, with Wright State having a slight edge, 44-42.
• The Raiders made 21 points off 21 UIC turnovers. The Flames capitalized on just 12 Wright State turnovers by turning them into 19 points.
• UIC and Wright State were close in the paint, with the advantage landing in favor of the Raiders, 28-22. The Raider bench outscored UIC's 38-8.

Up Next

• The Flames travel to Ohio for their first Horizon League road series, facing Youngstown State (Jan. 3) and Cleveland State (Jan. 5).

Highlights