CHICAGO- The UIC women's basketball team (13-11, 5-8 MVC) battled it out against UNI (16-6, 11-2 MVC) Friday night at Credit Union 1 Arena but came up short in the end, 55-47.

The Flames were led offensively by Jaida McCloud, who scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Tiana Jackson netted 10 points, a new season-high for the guard.

COACHES COMMENT
 "You are going to have days when you can and you are going to have days in this sport where it doesn't fall for you," UIC head coach Ashleen Bracey said. "At the end of the day, it's not about the wins or the losses. This team is getting better."

FIRST HALF

• The lead changed six times throughout the first half. A big improvement for UIC, who only changed the lead twice  the entire game when they faced UNI back on Jan. 21.
• Jaida McCloud scored 10 of her 15 points in the first half. She shot five-for-six before halftime, landing 83% of her shots.
• The Flames offensive work came in the paint, outworking the Panthers, 12-8.
• Sara Zabrecky landed her 33^rd three-pointer of the season in the first half. This is the 19^th game the season that Zabrecky has connected from beyond the arc.

SECOND HALF

• The Flames best offensive quarter came in the third quarter. They outscored the Panthers, 15-13.
• The Panthers began the fourth strong, going on a 6-0 run to start the quarter while the Flames battled through an offensive dry spell.
• A big three pointer from Tiana Jackson brought the Flames within three points, nearing the last minute of the game, 46-43.  
• The Panthers closed out with a win going four-for-six from the foul line as the Flames fought to preserve the remaining time left on the clock.

CONFERENCE STANDINGS

• The Flames remain tied in sixth place in the Missouri Valley Conference.
• Evansville and Southern Illinois also lost on Friday. Indiana State defeated Murray State, 82-71 to make it a four-way tie for sixth place.

JOSIE AND JAIDA'S JOURNEY TO 1,000 POINTS

• Josie Filer's five-point performance against UNI now has the graduate transfer 65 points away from 1,000 career points in her collegiate career.
• Filer is the leading scorer for the Flames this season, averaging 12.4 points per game.
• McCloud's third double figure game in a row now has the junior 96 points away from the milestone.
• McCloud now ties Filer for most times leading the team in scoring with nine games.

The Flames return to Credit Union 1 Arena Sunday afternoon to take on Drake (14-7, 9-4 MVC) at 1 p.m. This is also #Play4Kay game, where proceeds from the game will go to all forms of caner research in honor of the late North Carolina State coach Kay Yow.