Women’s basketball falls in tough competitions

Emily Kobel scored 16 points Friday. Photo: Steve Woltmann

The women’s basketball team played hard but lost its matches against St. Xavier Friday, 80-79, and Northwestern Sunday, 79-63.

The Flames dropped their season opener Friday, on a game-winning three-pointer by St. Xavier’s (1-0) Sidney Prasse with four seconds remaining.

The high-scoring game featured nine players in double figures, including UIC redshirt sophomore Ruvanna Campbell with a career-high 21 points.

Senior Emily Kobel tacked on 16 points, while freshman Melita Emanuel-Carr began her Flames career with 15 points.

The Flames (0-2) fought against  Northwestern (1-0) in the first half before the Wildcats pulled away for a victory Sunday at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

The Flames had 23 offensive rebounds and outrebounded the Wildcats, 47-40, but committed nine more turnovers (24-15).

Senior Katie Hannemann and Campbell both had 14 points for the Flames.

UIC returns to the UIC Pavilion Friday for a 7 p.m. contest with Idaho State. The Flames will take on the Bengals for the first time in program history.