EVANSVILLE, Ind. – After a back-and-forth battle, the University of Evansville women's basketball team fell just short in a 70-61 loss to the UIC Flames.
The Purple Aces saw their first second-half lead of Missouri Valley Conference play in a gritty match up against the Flames on Friday night. Foul trouble for UE in the game's final five minutes hindered Evansville in the nine-point loss. Post players center Barbora Tomancova, forward Nevaeh Thomas, and forward Maggie Hartwig all scored double-figures to lead the Aces on offense.
"I'm really proud of our fight," said Head Coach Robyn Scherr-Wells following the game. "I thought we showed really good physical toughness. We got off to a really tough start and we showed good mental toughness to fight through that and get back in the game making it a game most of the way.
"We just struggled to put enough points on the board in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter. We couldn't get shots to fall. We couldn't hang onto possessions with a few too many turnovers. But overall, I think we had some good growth from our team and some really good fight."
The Aces took some time to find their footing against UIC, finding themselves down 10 points early. UE's post players began to get the offense moving as Tomancova, Hartwig, and Thomas had 12 of Evansville's 16 points in the first quarter. The Aces benefited from 12 attempts at the line, completing 10 to make it a seven-point game going into the second.
UE had one of its best second quarters of the year, shooting 61.5% from the floor for 18 points to the Flames' 12. Evansville started the quarter on a five-point run before going basket for basket with UIC. A run for the Flames made it a double-digit deficit for the Aces with six minutes left in the first half. But UE bounced back on an eight-point run making it only a two-point deficit. With 10 seconds left in the first half, guard Julia Palomo hit a reverse layup for an and-1 opportunity to make it a one-point game.
Evansville and UIC traded the lead to start the second half four times in the first two minutes. The Flames pulled away first on an eight-point run. The Aces responded following the under-five timeout and regained the lead after putting up eight straight points. In the final two and a half minutes of the third quarter, UIC regained momentum as UE faced a four-point deficit.
It was a tough quarter on offense for Evansville as the Flames pulled away for a 13-point lead. The Aces' first basket came in the fourth minute as Thomas found success in the paint and guard Lexie Sinclair followed it up with a three-point jump shot. But UE soon found themselves in foul trouble as Tomancova picked up her fifth with 4:33 on the clock and guard Tene Smith fouled out in the final minute. Sinclair was able to sink another three to end the game, but it wouldn't be enough as Evansville fell to UIC 70-61.
Tomancova and Thomas led the Aces on offense with 12 points each while Hartwig added 10 points of her own. Hartwig then led UE on defense with seven rebounds and Tomancova had Evansville's only two blocks.
The Aces return to Meeks Family Fieldhouse on Sunday afternoon. UE will tip-off against the Valparaiso Beacons at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 28.
