UIC Handles Cleveland State, 69-50

March 7, 2007

Final Stats

Chicago, Ill. - The UIC women's basketball team (19-11) broke the school record of most wins in a season en route to the 2007 Horizon League Tournament semifinals. Senior LaShonda Grant led the second-seeded Flames to a 69-50 victory over seventh-seeded Cleveland State (8-22) in a quarterfinal matchup on Wednesday night at the UIC Pavilion.

Grant shot 66 percent from the field (6-for-9), 80 percent (8-for-10) from the line and hit two treys on the night. The senior tied her career-high with eight rebounds, while picking up a career-high eight assists. Senior Jacquay Holmes totaled 14 points and three assists. Freshman Jessie Miller was 3-for-4 from beyond the arc and notched a season-high two blocks.

Newcomer of the Year Kailey Klein led the Vikings with 10 points and Stephanie Crosley pulled down a team-best eight boards.

UIC came out strong in the first half with a 16-4 run. The Vikings got within eight points four times before the Flames sparked a 7-2 burst to lead 41-27 at the half. UIC shot 66 percent (4-for-6) from three-point land in first half and held Cleveland State to a .278 field goal percentage.

Sophomore Ashley Hluska hit a layup to give the Flames a 20-point (47-27) advantage early in the second half. Cleveland State got within 16 points at the 17:16 mark, but UIC continued to light up the boards.

The Flames took its largest lead of 27 points with 6:40 remaining, eventually advancing to the semifinals with a 69-50 triumph over Cleveland State.

"It was disappointing that we lost our last two regular-season games, but the players really came to play tonight," said head coach Lisa Ryckbosch. Lots of players were able to play which shows the depth on our bench."

With the win, the Flames square off against No. 3 Butler in the semifinals on Friday, March 9 at 5:00 p.m. CST. at the Phoenix Sports Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin.