UIC shot 50% from the floor for the second straight game, and defeated Austin Peay 62-59 in the finale of the Hostilo Hoops Classic Wednesday afternoon.  The Flames led by as many as 14 points, but had to fend off a feisty Governor rally down the stretch to secure their second win in the three-game event.

Leading by just one point, the Flames put the ball in the hands of Jaida McCloud.  She drove and drew a foul, converting one free throw with six seconds to go.  After the Flames were whistled for a foul, Yamiah Johnson scored her game high 20^th point from the line, but missed the second shot which Danyel Middleton rebounded.  Keona Schenck made a pair of free throws in the final second to clinch the win.


UIC was on fire in the first half as they built an early lead.  Crisp passing around the horn led to one of Sara Zabrecky's two first-quarter threes.  Tiana Jackson, who played a season high 20 minutes, gave the Flames important production when Kristian Young picked up her second foul.  Jackson drove all the way down the lane for a layup as part of her seven point, two assist performance.

The Flames started the second quarter on an 11-0 run thanks to three pointers by Ky Dempsey-Toney, Keona Schenck, and Josie Filer, with Jackson capping the run with a spin move to make it 30-16.  The Governors righted the ship later in the second quarter when Shamarre Hale scored nine of her 16 points, all in the last four minutes.


Though the Flames made five of 10 three-pointers in the first half, they started the second with a commitment to scoring inside.  Filer showed patience on two paint touches, notching layups at the end of both possessions.  McCloud did good work to establish position for a layup of her own as the Flames' lead continued to stay in double digits.

The Governors chipped away at their deficit, but never so much as tied the game.  McCloud had a nice putback down the stretch, following a Young baseline drive for a reverse layup.  In all, eight Flames scored, with Filer and Dempsey-Toney leading the way with 12 and 11 points respectively.  UIC shot a season high 74% from the free throw line.

The Flames will return home for a Sunday afternoon game against St. Thomas at Credit Union 1 Arena.  Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.