Dec. 4, 2009

Final Stats

CHICAGO - Faced with the challenge of taking on a ranked opponent for the second time in as many games, the UIC women's basketball team hung tough with No. 21/23 DePaul on Friday afternoon, but eventually fell to the Blue Demons, 67-56.

Maybe it was the noon start, maybe it was the nearly 2,000 screaming school children attending the game, but no matter the reason, the Flames came out flat and found themselves down 10-2 after DePaul's Keisha Hampton drilled a three-pointer. UIC head coach Lisa Ryckbosch called a timeout and her team suddenly woke up.

A three-pointer by freshman Taylor Foulks with 48 seconds to play in the half, pulled UIC (1-6) to within two points of the Blue Demons (6-2) who took a 31-29 lead into the break.

Senior Jessie Miller was quiet in the first half with only three points on 1-for-7 shooting. However, Miller came out firing in the second half, shooting 5-for-10, including 4-for-7 from long distance. The Preseason All-Horizon League selection led the Flames with 19 points.

The Blue Demons came out strong in the second half, opening with an 11-2 run. Jessie Miller's fifth three-point basket of the game brought the Flames to within seven points with 2:54 to play, however that was as close as they could get.

Jessie Miller's fifth three-point basket of the game brought the Flames to within seven points with 2:54 to play, however that was as close as they could get.

UIC struggled at the free throw line on Friday, shooting just 35.7 percent (five-for-14).

"We definitely made strides and I'm happy about that. I'm proud of our effort," said Ryckbosch after the game. "I thought we competed hard. I feel good about that, now we just need to do that for 40 minutes and I think we'll pick up a few more wins."

UIC will take the week off from competition for semester exams before returning to the court on Sunday, December 13 at Western Michigan.