Basketball falls to Horizon’s No. 1 Green Bay

Kendyl Nunn scored eight points off the bench. — Photo: Steve Woltmann

The women’s basketball team (14-11, 4-8 Horizon League) fell at first-place Green Bay (22-4, 12-1 Horizon League) Saturday, 71-32. The Phoenix clinched their 17th consecutive regular season conference championship with the victory.

The Flames return host Milwaukee (8-16, 4-8 Horizon League) at 7 p.m. tonight at the UIC Pavilion. The Panthers won the first meeting with the Flames in a 64-63 overtime victory Jan. 24 in Milwaukee.

Green Bay ran out to an early 15-2 advantage and held UIC to 16 percent shooting in the first half to lead 37-14 going into the locker room. The Phoenix shot 54 percent in the first half and made 4-of-10 attempts from downtown. The Flames were limited to four field goals in the second half and the Phoenix made 15-of-20 free throws after halftime.

“It is difficult to be competitive when we shoot 14 percent from the floor,” head coach Regina Miller said. “We missed too many layups and open looks to stay in the game. We will take the rest of the season one game at a time and finish as strong as possible heading into the Horizon League Tournament.”

The Flames grabbed a season-high 57 rebounds, including 28 on the offensive end. UIC ranks second nationally with 18.5 offensive rebounds per game.

Ruvanna Campbell led the Flames with nine points. She grabbed 13 rebounds for her 21st double-digit effort of the season.

Campbell, who ranks third nationally with 14.3 rebounds per game, passed Heather McKenna (1992-96) for No. 6 in program history with 807 career rebounds.

Kendyl Nunn made 6-of-8 free throws and scored eight points in 20 minutes off the bench. Melita Emanuel-Carr contributed five points while Imani Moore and Terri Bender added four each.