CHICAGO – Three Flames reached double figures for the first time this season as UIC (1-13, 0-3 HL) dropped its first Horizon League home game of the season to Detroit Mercy (1-12, 1-1 HL). Both Jada Nneji and Jealissa Presswood ended the night with career highs, tallying 21 points and 13 points, respectively. Tylah Lampley was also in double digits with 19 points.

As a team, UIC shot 40.4 percent, marking its second-straight game shooting above 40 percent. The Flames once again utilized their short game, turning in 30 points from the paint for the second-consecutive game, a season high for the team.

First Half Highlights

• The Flames began driving the ball early, jumping out to a 6-2 lead at the start off a trio of layups. The Titans tied the game at eight after a 6-2 series of their own, but UIC took four unanswered to take back the lead, 12-8.
• Detroit Mercy put up back-to-back threes to bring the game to a draw at 14, but a late free throw from Jada Nneji put UIC up by one at the end of the first quarter.
• An early layup in the second gave the Titans their first lead, which was answered by Tylah Lampley to once again put the advantage on the Flames' side, 17-16.
• Detroit Mercy struck again, this time taking six in-a-row for a 22-17 lead, but UIC quickly replied with eight over a 1:45 span to go ahead 25-22.
• The lead continued to change hands through the middle minutes of the second quarter, until a 6-0 run for the Titans in the final minute of the half gave them a 39-32 at the break.

Second Half Highlights

• The Titans extended their lead with a jumper in their first possession, 41-32. The Flames began chipping away at the lead, picking up a layup and a trio of free throws while keeping Detroit Mercy scoreless over a 2:45 period, 41-37.
• The visitors were able to get in a pair of free throws, but their next field goal would not come for another minute, 45-39.
• UIC drew within four after four freebies, 47-43. A late three in the final seconds of the third quarter pushed the Titans lead to seven, 50-43.
• Another trey and a layup in the first minute of the fourth pushed Detroit Mercy's lead into double digits, 55-43. Nneji brought it back down into single figures with a perfect trip at the charity stripe and a jumper, 55-47.
• The Titans once again pushed their advantage to 10, 59-49, but Lampley put one in from downtown to keep the Flames in it, 59-52. Lampley once again kept UIC in striking distance a minute later with a pair of free throws, 61-54.
• Three straight put Detroit Mercy's lead back at 10, 64-54. The Flames took six of the next seven, putting them just five away with just under 40 seconds left on the clock, 65-60.
• UIC's late effort would come up short, 70-62.

Facts & Figures

• Jada Nneji's 21-point performance was the first 20+ outing of her career. She also finished with four rebounds and a career-high five steals.
• Tylah Lampley's 19 points marked her third double-digit outing in her last four appearances. The senior also ended the night with a career-high six steals, a season high four assists and seven rebounds.
• In addition to her career-high points, Jealissa Presswood also matched her personal best with eight rebounds.
• Tiana Jackson contributed six points and four rebounds.
• For the second-straight game, Abreanna Lake handed out seven assists, just one mark shy of her season high.
• As a team, UIC tallied a team season-high 21 steals, more than double Detroit Mercy's 10. The Flames were also stronger on the boards, 34-32.
• The Titans finished with more turnovers, 33-30, but they turned in more points off UIC's miscues, 25-23.
• Both teams recorded 10 points off the second chance. The Flames collected more on the fast break, 18-11. Detroit Mercy's bench outscored UIC, 35-8.
• UIC was outshot overall, 40.4 percent (21-of-52) to 45.7 percent (21-of-46) for the Titans. The visitors were also stronger from three, sinking 33 percent (7-of-21) of their shots compared to 14.3 percent (2-of-14) for UIC.
• Detroit Mercy also had a better night at the charity stripe, making 70 percent (21-of-30) of their freebies while UIC made 60 percent (21-of-52).

Up Next

• The Flames will play host to the Golden Grizzlies on Saturday, Jan. 4.

Highlights