Women’s basketball preps for tournament

The Flames honored Gabryelle Johnson and Teodora Zagorac. (Photo: Steve Woltmann)

The women’s basketball team will play their first game in the 2018 Little Caesars Horizon League Championship at 11 a.m. Friday in Detroit.

The Flames (8-21, 1-17 Horizon League) fell, 80-53, to Wright State (21-9, 12-6 Horizon League) Sunday in the final matchup of the regular season. The Flames honored seniors Gabryelle Johnson and Teodora Zagorac for their careers at UIC before the start of the game.

Taylor Toney closed out the regular season in style with her fifth double-double of the season, leading the Flames with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Toney also helped spread the ball around with five assists.

The Flames won the tip off, and Toney found an open lane to drive in a layup for the game’s first bucket. Wright State found its first points at the free throw line and built a 16-6 lead off a 12-0 run. The Flames committed seven turnovers in that span.

Kara Wilson sunk a short jumper to end the Raiders’ streak, but the Flames faced a 16-9 deficit at the end of the first 10 minutes. The Flames ended the first quarter with 10 turnovers, seven were also Wright State steals.

The Flames outscored the Raiders, 15-12, in the second quarter to end the first half in striking distance, 28-24.

The Flames went 1-for-10 in the first seven minutes of the half, allowing the Raiders to go on a 9-0 run, 44-29. UIC finished the third quarter 2-for-15, while Wright State poured in 23 points to run away with a 51-32 lead heading into the final quarter.

The Flames had their best offense in the fourth quarter, netting 21 points, but the visitors had their best quarter as well with 29 points, giving the Raiders the 80-53 win.