Three players end the night in double-figures for the Purple Aces
CHICAGO – A cold fourth quarter kept the University of Evansville women’s basketball team from capitalizing on a late lead in its 65-57 loss to the UIC Flames.
The Purple Aces led going into the final frame of Friday night’s game at Credit Union 1 Arena. But an almost four-minute scoreless streak put the Flames ahead to take the season series. Despite struggling with foul trouble down the stretch, UE had three players in double-figures while freshman forward Nevaeh Thomas picked up her second double-double of the season.
Evansville played from behind to start Friday’s contest. Facing a seven-point deficit only four minutes into the game, the Aces rallied behind point guards Kynidi Mason Striverson and Tené Smith to get within one at the 4:14 mark. The two teams traded shots until the final minute of the first quarter. Five straight points for UIC made it 24-19 going into the second frame.
It was all defense for UE in the second quarter as they kept the Flames to a lone field goal. But foul trouble began for the Aces with its starting forwards Maggie Hartwig and Thomas picking up one each. The free throws put UIC ahead by 11 but spurred a six-point run from Evansville. UE’s last basket of the first half came with under three minutes leading to a nine-point deficit to start the second half.
The Aces had their best quarter of the night in the third, shooting 61.5% from the floor. It was a back-and-forth start to the second half including two runs for either team. Evansville gained momentum in the final five minutes of the quarter. The Aces didn’t allow a shot to be made by the Flames in that stretch while going a hot four of six. A three from Hartwig with 39 seconds left in the third gave UE its only lead of the game at 47-46.
But UIC responded early in the fourth quarter, drawing two quick fouls to retake the lead. Evansville didn’t find the basket again until almost four minutes into the quarter thanks to a foul drawn by guard Julia Palomo. Over the next four and a half minutes, the Aces got it back within three on a Hartwig trey and a free throw from guard Lexie Sinclair. But the Flames closed out the game on a six-to-one run while drawing fouls that took Mason Striverson, Hartwig, and Smith out of the game for the 65-57 loss.
Thomas led the team on defense with 10 rebounds and added her double-double with 15 points on the floor. Mason Striverson led the team on offense with 17 while Hartwig also made it into double-digits with 11 points. Three players recorded a steal each while Thomas and guard Madline Gerke picked up the two blocks of the game.
The Aces head to Valparaiso for a Sunday afternoon clash at the ARC. Tip-off against the Beacons is set for 1 p.m.
