CHICAGO - The UIC women's basketball team (2-15, 1-11 Horizon) fell to the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons (4-14, 3-8 Horizon), 88-61. The Flames were led in scoring by Jaida McCloud, who finished with 23 points and eight rebounds. Justice Gee put up a career-best 16 points against the Mastodons, along with five assists and four rebounds. The Flames' next game will be Tuesday, Feb. 1, at 1 p.m. at Credit Union 1 Arena.

The Flames came out of the gate battling against the Mastodons but lost some fire in the second half of the first quarter of play. The Flames struggled mightly in the first half of play, shooting 23%  from the field, 1-5 from the 3-point line. 

In the second half of play, the Flames played with aggression on offense, scoring 22 points against the Mastodons. Gee and McCloud led the charge offensively, scoring 27 of the Flames 40 points in the second half of the game. UIC also grabbed a spark off the bench from Leah Yarbrough, who scored seven points in the fourth quarter. Yarbrough has been impressing in the past two games, using her time on the court well offensively and defensively.

The Flames will be back at Credit Union 1 Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 1, to host Northern Kentucky. Tip off is scheduled for 1 p.m.

QUICK FACTS

• Justice Gee scored a career-high 16 points.
• Gee scored 11 of her 16 points in the third quarter.
• Jadia McCloud scored 23 points.
• Keona Schenck went 2-4 from beyond the arch on the day.