KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The UIC women's basketball team (1-2) wrapped up the non-conference portion of its schedule on Saturday night with an 80-76 loss at Western Michigan (1-0). The Flames nearly erased a 12-point Western Michigan lead, outscoring the Broncos 28-22 in the final frame, but their comeback ultimately fell short.
 
Freshman Jaida McCloud turned in an impressive 26-point performance to lead all players once again, while also adding 10 rebounds to record her first double-double in a UIC jersey.

First Half Highlights

• The Flames immediately got to work, forcing a trio of Western Michigan turnovers in the first two minutes to jump out to a 7-0 lead.
• The Broncos responded, and after a pair of 4-0 runs, they were within one, 9-8.
• UIC got back to work, capitalizing on four more WMU turnovers over the next four minutes to put together an 8-0 run and a 19-10 lead. The Broncos would put in a pair of free throws before the end of the quarter, making it 19-12 after the first ten minutes of play.
• The Flames got into some foul trouble in the first half of the second quarter, resulting in a 10-0 run for Western Michigan and the first lead of the game for the Broncos, 25-21.
• Daijah Smith helped put the Flames on a 6-0 streak with a three and a layup to take the back the lead, 27-25, but Western Michigan quickly cashed in a pair of threes, 31-27.
• A jumper from Jada Nneji would leave the Flames down by two heading into the locker room at halftime, 31-29.

Second Half Highlights

• Tiana Jackson converted a three-point play with eight minutes left in the third to put the Flames back on top, 37-36, but it was answered with a 7-0 run for Western Michigan, 43-37.
• Jackson broke the Bronco streak with a jumper, but they would go on to take eight of the next ten to extend their lead, 51-41 with 3:39 left in the third frame.
• The Broncos maintained a 10-point lead through the remainder of the third quarter, 58-48.
• Jaida McCloud and Kristian Young teamed up to put UIC on a 7-2 run and cut the Bronco lead in half, 60-55.
• Keona Schenck drew a pair of fouls and sank all four of her freebies to reduce WMU's advantage to just three, 67-64, but the Broncos quickly laid one up on their next possession, 69-64.
• Young replied to five unanswered Western Michigan points with a three to put UIC within five with just one minute remaining, 74-69.
• Four freebies for the Broncos with in the final 30 seconds put the game out of reach for the Flames, 78-69.  
• Smith converted a three-point play and McCloud added two more buckets in the final 13 seconds, but it would not be enough as UIC would fall 80-76.

Facts & Figures

• Kristian Young also turned in an impressive stat line for the Flames, tallying 13 points, four rebounds, six assists and six steals.
• Daijah Smith was also in double figures for UIC, accumulating 17 points to go with four rebounds.
• Tiana Jackson recorded nine points and three rebounds.
• The Flames sank 41.5 percent (27-of-65) of their shots compared to 49 percent (25-of-51) for the Broncos. The home team also held the advantage beyond the arc, sinking 36.4 percent (8-of-22) of their threes compared to 29.4 percent (5-of-17) for the Flames.
• UIC had the advantage at the charity stripe, making 68 percent (17-of-25) of their freebies compared to 64.7 percent (22-of-34) for the Broncos.
• The Broncos outrebounded the Flames 39-31.
• The two teams were equal in the paint (30-30), as well as off the fast break (18-18).
• The Flames forced 29 Bronco turnovers and cashed in 30 points off those miscues, while WMU gained 23 points off UIC's 23 turnovers.
• Western Michigan's bench held a slight advantage over UIC's, 23-21.

Up Next

• UIC will make its Horizon League debut on Dec. 12 & 13 at Oakland.