CHICAGO (Nov. 19, 2023) – The UIC women's basketball team (4-1) brought the offensive firepower Sunday afternoon at Credit Union 1 Arena, defeating IUPUI (1-3) 79-49. The Flames set many statistical highs for the two-year tenure of head coach
Ashleen Bracey, including largest win margin as well as team assists and steals.
COACHES' COMMENT
"I'm very proud of the squad! We needed a defensive bounce back from Friday. I wasn't very happy with our defense, but today I think we bought into it," said Bracey. "It wasn't perfect, but to hold a team to 10 points under their average, I'm happy. It's an opportunity to keep building and getting better. Offensively, one of our goals is to have 18 assists every game. I have a team who can score, so we preach sharing the ball and making the extra pass, which we did really well."
FIRST QUARTER (18-8, UIC)
- After grabbing an early steal, senior Keimari Rimmer (Chicago, Ill./Proviso East/DePaul) drew the foul on the breakaway and converted a three-point play to get UIC on the board 45 seconds into the game.
- Senior Kristian Young (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) found space in the lane for a driving layup for a 5-3 UIC lead.
- Junior Krystyna Ellew (Chicago, Ill./Taft/Wisconsin) found senior Makiyah Williams (Chicago, Ill./Trinity/Marquette) open beyond the arc for UIC's first made three-pointer of the game with 4:37 left in the first quarter (8-6 UIC).
- Williams' three-pointer sparked an 8-0 run for the Flames, highlighted by layups from both Williams and junior Sandra Frau-Garcia (Pego, Spain/Casper College).
- Williams reached double figures with her second three-pointer of the game in the closing seconds of the quarter, capping off a 13-2 run for UIC.
SECOND QUARTER (38-20, UIC)
- Senior Dais'Ja Trotter (Louisville, Ky./Seneca/Cincinnati) discovered space on the perimeter and found nothing but net for UIC's third three-pointer in the half (23-10).
- A 7-0 run from the Jaguars came to an end when Williams made a quick layup on an inbounds pass to keep UIC ahead 25-17 at the media timeout.
- The Flames caught fire after the timeout, going on a 11-0 run, highlighted by three consecutive free throws from Ellew and baskets from by seniors Jaida McCloud (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods) and Sara Zabrecky (Munster, Ind./Munster/St. John's).
THIRD QUARTER (59-38, UIC)
- After coming up with a big block on the defensive end, McCloud found Trotter in transition for the layup to begin UIC's second half on a strong note less than a minute in (42-20).
- Frau-Garcia found Ellew open on the inbound pass for a mid-range jumper to build UIC's lead to 46-25.
- Williams' third three pointer was soon followed by senior Danyel Middleton's (Chicago, Ill./Bolingbrook/Marquette) first make of the game just before the media timeout to open up a 52-27 UIC edge.
- IUPUI's Katie Davidson attempted to drive the lane for a lay-up but was denied by Middelton for UIC's seventh block of the game with 1:35 left in the quarter.
- Layups from Ellew and Rimmer closed out the quarter for UIC, giving the Flames a 26-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER (79-49, UIC)
- On UIC's first offensive possession of the quarter, Rimmer drove the lane and dished to Ky Dempsey-Toney (Franklin, NJ/Franklin) for her first basket of the game and a 61-39 lead,
- After Middleton grabbed an offensive rebound , Zabrecky found space from beyond the arc to hit her first three-pointer of the game to extend UIC's lead to 25 with less than seven minutes left in the game.
- Williams registered her second consecutive 20-point game, when Frau-Garcia found her open for the layup (68-25) before the media timeout was called.
- Checking into the game late, Erin Henry (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North/Example Academy) was open in the corner, and banked in a three-pointer for her first collegiate points.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- This 30-point victory is the largest in Bracey's tenure, surpassing the a 64-38 victory against Bradley on Feb. 25, 2023.
- UIC's 22 assists is another high mark for the Flames under Bracey, surpassing 20 assists in last season's overtime victory against St. Thomas.
- The Flames had 17 steals on Sunday, posting their highest total of the Bracey era for the second consecutive game (15 at Milwaukee on Nov. 12).
UP NEXT
After the Thanksgiving holiday, the Flames head back on the road next Sunday (Nov. 26) at 2 p.m. (CT) to face Saint Louis (3-1) at Chaifetz Arena. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will be provided on
UICFlames.com.
For more information, fans are encouraged to visit
UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UIC_WBB and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_wbb and @uicflames).
#FireUpFlames | #ChicagosCollegeTeam
