FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The UIC women's basketball team (0-1) fought back from a 21-point deficit at the half to come within five, but it wouldn't be enough, as the Flames fell 61-50 on Thursday morning in their season opener against future Horizon League contender Purdue Fort Wayne (2-0).

First Half Highlights

• Purdue Fort Wayne scored first on its second possession, stealing the ball and sinking one for three. A free throw and a layup off another Mastodon theft extended its lead, 6-0.
• The Mastodons converted a three-point play, put in another free throw and ran in another layup, putting the score at 12-0.
• UIC's first score came off a free throw from Tiana Jackson, and another free shot from Amira Coles 40 seconds later made it 12-2.
• A long two for Purdue Fort Wayne finished out the first quarter, 14-2.
• Coles put in two more from the line and Abreanna Lake added one, but a triple for Purdue Fort Wayne canceled out UIC's advance, 17-5.
• The Flames' first field goal came on a layup from Tylah Lampley, which she converted to a three-point play, but the Mastodons answered with a pair of threes, 25-8.
• Four free throws for Purdue Fort Wayne would end the first half, 29-8.

Second Half Highlights

• Jackson laid one up to start off the second half for the Flames, and a three from Kiarra Thompson in the next possession gave UIC a quick five points, 29-13.
• The Mastodons struck just outside of eight minutes, but Jada Nneji put up a short jumper, 31-15.
• Both teams put in a freebie, and another long shot from Thompson went in for three, 32-19.
• A pair of free throws and another trey, all at the hands of Thompson, cut at the Mastodon's lead, 32-24.
• Four buckets from Nneji brought UIC's deficit down to just six, 38-32, and Lampley converted a three-point play to bring it down to five, 40-35, but a late layup for the Mastodons would end the third quarter, 42-35.
• Nneji continued her onslaught in the fourth with another layup, but seven unanswered points for Purdue Fort Wayne put its lead back into double figures, 49-37.
• Jackson went 2-for-2 at the line, and the Mastodons took the next five, but Kimeira Burks and Thompson matched with a layup and a three, 54-44.
• Purdue Fort Wayne took another five, but Nneji and Burks put the Flames on a 6-0 run to bring the deficit back into single digits, 59-50.
• A pair of free throws for the Mastodons would finish out the game's scoring, 61-50.

Facts & Figures

• Jada Nneji was in double-double territory, finishing with 17 points and eight rebounds. The junior finished shooting 61.5 overall with three blocks.
• Kiarra Thompson was also in double figures with 14 points, 12 of which came from beyond the arc. Thompson also added six rebounds to her performance.
• Tylah Lampley tallied six points and three rebounds, while also making a pair of blocks.
• Tiana Jackson and Kimeira Burks were the highest-scoring newcomers, tallying five points and four points, respectively, in the first games of their UIC careers.
• Amira Coles finished with three points, while Shelby Case recorded four rebounds in their Flames premieres.
• After shooting just 6.3 percent in the first half, the Flames finished shooting 32.7 percent (17-for-52) overall, with a 22.2 percent (4-for-18) mark from beyond the arc. The Flames also made 66.7 percent (12-for-18) of their shots from the charity stripe.
• The Mastodons got 20 points from UIC's 20 turnovers, while the Flames took 13 from 17 Purdue Fort Wayne miscues.
• The Flames were stronger in the paint, 22-20, as well as off the fast break, 6-4. The Mastodon bench outscored UIC's 25-8. The two teams were evenly matched on the second chance as the Mastodons tallied 14 to UIC's 13.

Up Next

• UIC's three-game road stint to start the season continues as the Flames head south to face Kansas and Kansas State.
• The Flames will first face the Jayhawks on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 1 p.m. CT.