Women’s basketball breezes past North Park

Teodora Zagorac takes a shot. (Photo: Steve Woltmann)

UIC used a balanced attack and a prolific fourth quarter run to put away the North Park Vikings in exhibition action Friday at the UIC Pavilion, 84-51.

The balance showed itself early on as seven players scored for the Flames in the first quarter. Fifth-year senior Terri Bender led all players with five points in the opening 10 minutes.

The Flames opened things up even further in the second quarter as they doubled up the Vikings 22-11 to snag a 44-29 lead at the half.

UIC’s defensive effort also intensified as it held North Park to 11 points and a mark of 30.8 percent from the field in the second 10-minute segment.

The Flames continued to grow their overall advantage as they held the Vikings to 11 points for the second consecutive period to take a 23-point cushion into the final quarter.

UIC created some serious distance in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter. After the Vikings scored the quarter’s first basket, the Flames used a 10-0 run over a quick 2:15 span to balloon the lead to 35 points. Newcomer KiKi Bynes scored the final seven points of the spurt over 87 seconds.

UIC used its discernable size advantage to own the glass, the Flames outrebounding North Park, 50-31. UIC’s Teodora Zagorac paced all players collecting 10 rebounds, including five on the offensive end.

Five players made their UIC debut Friday. Freshman Tyra Carlsten-Handberg was in the starting lineup, while Bynes, Gabryelle Johnson, and Lacy Stewart and Tylah Lampley contributed in a reserve role.

Melita Emanuel-Carr and Desiree Jackson led the Flames with 10 points.

UIC will begin the regular season next week when it hosts Lake Forest at the UIC Pavilion at 7 p.m. Friday. The contest is the first in a season-opening four-game homestand to start the 2016-17 campaign.