Women’s squad cruises past UIS at Pavilion

Melita Emanuel-Carr poured in 10 points against UIS Sunday at the UIC Pavilion. Photo: Timothy Nguyen

The UIC women’s basketball team, off to its first 4-1 start in four years, cruised to a 61-44 home win over Division II sister campus University of Illinois at Springfield Sunday at the UIC Pavilion.

UIC is back in action Wednesday in the Pavilion against SIU-Edwardsville (2-3).

Against Springfield, UIC led for over 38 minutes, up by as many as 24 in the second half. The Flames forced 23 turnovers and scored 31 points off UIS miscues. UIC had 36 points in the paint, grabbed 18 offensive rebounds and scored 16 second-chance points.

UIS shot 31 percent from the field (15-of-48), the fourth UIC opponent to shoot under 40 percent. The Flames picked up 15 steals and outrebounded the Prairie Stars, 43-34.

Redshirt sophomore Marissa Grossfeld led UIC with a career-high 16 points in her first career start. She hit 7-of-11 shots, including 2-of-5 from beyond the arc, and collected a career-high four steals.

Redshirt junior Ruvanna Campbell had 15 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and two steals in 30 minutes. She has been in double-figures in all five games this season and 38 times in her UIC career.

Sophomore Melita Emanuel-Carr poured in 10 points to go along with six assists, five rebounds and two steals. The six assists match her career high set against Roosevelt last season.

Redshirt sophomore Kendyl Nunn had seven points and six rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench. Senior Gisselle Truiett picked up a career-high six steals, five rebounds and five assists.

UIS took an early 3-2 lead on Courtney Knuckles’ three-pointer but the Flames responded with a 16-2 run to go up 18-5 with 11:20 left in the first half. Truiett’s last-second jumper put UIC up 40-22 at halftime. The Flames forced 13 turnovers and held UIS to eight field goals in the first half.

UIC’s biggest lead was 56-32 after Nunn’s free throw with 6:36 left in the contest. UIS scored the final six points of the game to bring the Flames’ advantage back under 20.