Nunn’s layup nets win for Flames against Milwaukee
Kendyl Nunn’s layup Wednesday pushed the Flames ahead of Milwaukee to seal the 72-70 victory. — Photo: Steve Woltmann
The women’s basketball team (15-11, 5-8 Horizon League) led by as many as 13 in the second half but needed a late putback by Kendyl Nunn to collect a 72-70 home win Wednesday over Milwaukee (8-17, 4-9 Horizon League).
With the victory, the Flames jumped two spots in the Horizon League standings to sixth place. UIC is back in action Saturday, hosting Oakland (11-15, 5-8 Horizon League) at 3 p.m. at the UIC Pavilion.
UIC made 51 percent of its field goals (28-of-54) and a season-high 62 percent of their three-point attempts (5-of-8). UIC owned a 39-28 advantage on the boards and scored 16 second-chance points. The Flames have outrebounded 23 of 26 opponents this season.
“It was one of our best shooting performances of the season and we needed every shot,” UIC head coach Regina Miller said. “Milwaukee fought back valiantly and we matched them shot for shot near the end. Kendyl (Nunn) was clutch down the stretch and she won the game on our last offensive possession with pure effort.”
UIC had five players in double-figures, led by Melita Emanuel-Carr’s 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting. She scored 14 points in the second half and finished 2-of-4 from three-point land. Emanuel-Carr had a team-high four assists and three steals.
Nunn finished with 14 points and seven rebounds, including five on the offensive end. Nunn played a season-high 37 minutes in her second start of the season.
In her first career start, Imani Moore was 4-of-4 from the field and 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. She picked up two of UIC’s seven steals in a career-high 29 minutes of action.
Ruvanna Campbell collected her 19th double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds. She had eight points and nine rebounds after halftime. Terri Bender scored 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting in 13 minutes off the bench.
UIC jumped out to a 14-8 advantage before Milwaukee narrowed the Flames’ lead to 22-20 with 7:43 left in the first half. UIC responded with a 6-0 run and Bender’s last-second jumper gave the Flames a 38-31 lead at halftime.
Up nine with 16:46 remaining in the second half, the Flames drained three straight three-pointers to hold their largest lead of the game at 53-40. Emanuel-Carr’s three-pointer with 8:24 on the clock gave UIC a 62-49 lead before Milwaukee rallied back.
The Panthers went on a 21-8 run to tie the contest at 70. The run was capped by Ashley Green’s jumper with 29 seconds remaining. On the next possession, Nunn put back a missed jumper by Campbell with 13 seconds left on the clock. Jenny Lindner’s last-second layup fell short and the Flames picked up their fifth Horizon League win.
