WBB v UIC (17 DEC 15) - Highlights
WBB v UIC (17 DEC 15) - Full Game
WBB v UIC (17 DEC 15) - Post Game

BOX SCORE

DENVER - A late second-half run proved to be enough for Illinois-Chicago on Thursday night, getting a 56-46 victory over the University of Denver women's basketball program at Magness Arena.

Both teams battled each other in the hard-fought contest, with Denver clinging to a three-point lead through the first three quarters of play before the Flames put it away in the fourth.

Jacqlyn Poss (Shoreview, Minn.) finished with a game-high 16 points for the Pioneers, her fourth game this year in double figures in points.

Jesse Spittel (Yorba Linda, Calif.) turned in a solid performance down on the low block, scoring 12 points to go along with eight rebounds.

Paige Bradley (The Woodlands, Texas) added 10 points in 36 minutes of action for DU.

UIC was led by Ruvanna Campbell's double-double performance of 15 points and 17 rebounds. Campbell entered the game ranked third in the NCAA in rebounds per game at 14.4.

Rebounding was the key stat of the game, with Illinois-Chicago holding a decisive 51-33 advantage on the glass.

The opening portion of the game saw the Pioneers get back to their defensive ways from the other night at Milwaukee, holding the Flames to 33 percent (3-for-9) shooting in the first five minutes. UIC was able get a 6-3 lead during that span with some stellar defense of its own.

Illinois-Chicago was able to close out the first quarter strong, taking a 14-8 lead behind the commanding presence of Campbell, who finished the opening 10 minutes with eight points and six rebounds.

DU worked its way back in the contest with some key outside shooting by Poss to start the second. The junior guard brought Denver to within one after connecting on a 3-pointer from the left corner, her second of the game.

The Pioneers closed with a fury in the final 25 seconds, scoring the final five points to tie things up at 24 all, capped off by a layup from Bradley, giving her six in the half.

Defense again kept DU in the game in the first half, holding Illinois-Chicago to 28.1 percent (9-for-32) shooting from the field.

Denver was finally rewarded for its stifling defense it had displayed in the first half, grabbing its first lead since 1-0 at 32-30 after a pair of free throws from Maya Rodgers (Meridian, Idaho).

The defense continued for the reminder of the period, limiting the Flames to just 10 points for a second straight quarter as the Pioneers held a three-point lead at the end of the third at 37-34.

UIC finally found its solution to the DU defense in the fourth, getting 22 of its 56 points in the final 10 minutes of play. Illinois-Chicago was able to pull away with its ability to crash the glass on the offensive end and pick up second-chance points on several occasions to seal the win.

Up Next
Denver (2-9) stays home to take on Colorado State on Sunday. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. MT at Magness Arena as part of a doubleheader with the men's team.

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