Women’s basketball racks up 11th straight win

Terri Bender scored a season-high 14 points. She’s collected 24 steals over the last seven games. Photo: Timothy Nguyen/UIC News

The UIC women’s basketball team (11-2) won its 11th consecutive game Jan. 3 with a 98-68 home victory over Roosevelt (12-5) at the UIC Pavilion.

UIC begins Horizon League play Jan. 8 when the Flames travel to Wisconsin to take on Green Bay (7-5).

Ruvanna Campbell (23 points and 13 rebounds), who was named the Horizon League’s Player of the Week, led the Flames to their third straight win over the Lakers, who sit at No. 11 in the NAIA Division II rankings.

The Flames’ 11-2 record is the best 13-game start in program history. The victory ties the team’s longest winning streak, Jan. 11 to Feb. 24, 2007.

“Roosevelt is a high-scoring team and we used our size to neutralize their scorers,” said head coach Regina Miller. “It feels great to enter conference play on an 11-game win streak and we feel very confident heading into Green Bay next week.”

The win streak ranks as the fourth longest in the nation. It only trails eight programs (No. 1 UConn, No. 2 Notre Dame, No. 11 Oklahoma State, No. 14 Iowa State, Indiana, San Diego, West Virginia and VCU).  It is also the longest winning streak of Regina Miller’s head coaching career.

Seven of the 11 wins have been at road or neutral sites. Four of the 11 victories were against 2012-13 WNIT participants (Idaho State, Miami Ohio, Texas Southern and Butler).

UIC ran out to a 14-0 lead and never looked back. Roosevelt trimmed the UIC advantage to seven at 24-17 with 8:54 left in the first half. The Flames went on a 22-2 run to go up 46-19 with 1:53 before halftime. UIC’s largest lead was 39 at 89-50 with 5:19 remaining.

UIC had 60 of 98 points in the paint and scored 23 points off 14 Roosevelt turnovers. The Flames shot a season-high 59.1 percent from the field (39-of-66) and out-rebounded the Lakers 45-28.

UIC nearly set single-game program records in made field goals (39) and assists (29).

UIC last scored 90 or more points on Dec. 14, 2012, against Roosevelt (90-67). The Flames won by 30 or more for the first time since a 77-42 victory over Butler on Jan. 19, 2012.

Campbell recorded 15 points and 12 rebounds in the first half. She finished 10-of-11 from the field. It was Campbell’s fourth 20-point effort this season. She now owns a team-high eight double-doubles.

Sophomore Terri Bender scored a season-high 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting. She collected two more steals — 24 steals over the last seven games (3.4 steals per contest).

Redshirt senior Katie Hannemann chipped in 12 points while senior Rachel Story added 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting. The Flames are undefeated (11-0) with Story in the lineup and she has been in double-figures in 14 straight contests dating back to last season.

Sophomore Caitlin Garant set career-highs with 13 points and five rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench. Senior Emily Kobel (eight points) set career-highs with six assists and two blocks.

The contest counted as an exhibition game for the Lakers and their record did not change.

UIC will travel to Wisconsin Jan. 8 to take on Green Bay (7-5). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT inside the Kress Center.

In the Horizon League’s 2013-14 preseason poll, Green Bay was chosen to win the conference championship. The Phoenix have won or shared the Horizon League regular season title for 15 consecutive seasons.