MILWAUKEE – The Horizon League's number one three-point shooting team was on full display on Saturday afternoon as the Panthers (10-10, 5-4 HL) took down UIC (3-17, 1-8 HL) by a final tally of 72-53 on Saturday afternoon. Milwaukee put in nine shots from downtown and finished the day making 44.3 percent of their shots, compared to 36 percent for the Flames.

Brittany Byrd led all scorers with 22 points. The senior eclipsed 20 points for the fourth time this season and 11th time in her career while also finishing the day with five rebounds and two assists.

First Half Highlights

• The Panthers made their first bucket in the first 10 seconds, but UIC responded on its next possession, with Catera Etheridge sinking a three from the left corner, 3-2. The Panthers drove in the next six, but Brittany Byrd was able to find the net from downtown herself, 8-6.
• The Panthers took seven before Kiarra Thompson could push through the defense for a layup, 15-8. Milwaukee started to show its muscle from beyond the arc, making back-to-back threes, 21-8.
• Byrd went 2-of-2 from the charity stripe and was able to sink another triple in the final seconds of the first quarter, putting the Panthers lead at 10 after the first 10 minutes, 23-13.
• Milwaukee opened up the second quarter with a 7-2 run to double up on the Flames, 30-15. Abreanna Lake made a pair from the free-throw line, but the Panthers rattled off the next six, 36-17.
• Jasmine Gaines got a big offensive rebound for the Flames which Jada Nneji was able to cash in for two, 36-19. Byrd was able to make her third trey of the day to break up a pair of Milwaukee layups, but the Flames headed to the locker room at the half down by 19, 42-23.  

Second Half Highlights

• The Flames opened up the second half with a 10-3 run, which was capped off by a Byrd steal and Gaines layup, 45-33. The Panthers laid one up to end UIC's eight-point streak, and back-to-back steals resulted in four more Milwaukee points, 51-34.
• Gaines's next bucket was her seventh of the quarter and matched her personal best, but the Panthers ended the third quarter scoring five straight, 56-36.
• Byrd scored all eight of UIC's points in the first half of the fourth, but after her layup at the 6:35 mark, the Flames offense went silent. After nearly four minutes without a basket, it was Byrd again, making one from downtown to put the score at 70-47.
• Thompson put in two triples in the final minute and-a-half, but it wouldn't be enough, as the Flames fell 72-53.

Facts & Figures

• Kiarra Thompson ended the day with nine points, her third-straight nine point performance. Thompson also tallied five rebounds and was one of three Flames to hand out a trio of assists.
• Jasmine Gaines matched her personal best with seven points, all of which came in the third quarter. The freshman also rebounded three and assisted on two.
• Catera Etheridge brought in seven points and five rebounds, while also handing out three assists.
• The Panthers held the edge on the boards, out rebounding the Flames 40-29.
• Milwaukee's bench put up an impressive 46 points, led by Brandi Bisping's 12-point showing.
• The Panthers held the edge in the paint, 24-12, and were also able to score 23 points off UIC's 13 turnovers. The Flames got four off 11 Milwaukee miscues.

Up Next

• UIC will wrap up its five-game road trip next weekend at Wright State (Jan. 31) and Northern Kentucky (Feb. 2).