Senior Jalesa Jones had 10 points and a game-high six assists in the tough setback at UIC.

Women's Basketball 01.05.12

Titans Fall At UIC In Physical Affair

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CHICAGO -- Four Titans were in double figures, but in a hard-fought, tough-physical game, the Detroit women's basketball team saw its five-game winning streak come to an end as the Titans dropped a 66-59 road decision to UIC on Thursday night.

Sophomore Senee Shearer (Detroit, MI/Pershing) had a team-high 15 points, 13 in the second half. Freshman Shareta Brown (Grand Blanc, MI/Grand Blanc) tallied 13 points and nine rebounds, while senior Jalesa Jones (Detroit, MI/Pershing) and sophomore Megan Hatter (Howell, MI/Howell) added 10 apiece. Jones also had a game-high six assists.

In a game that featured 29 fouls and a few stoppages due to player injuries, Detroit (6-9, 2-1) saw a seven-point second-half lead slip away as UIC (9-5, 2-1) outscored UDM, 27-13, in the final 12:07.

Detroit was up, 46-39, after a Jones' layup when the Flames began their run. UDM was able to hold off UIC from taking the lead for almost eight minutes, always coming up with timely baskets and turnovers.

Up by one, 46-45, Jones netted a basket and Hatter added a free throw to push the lead back to four. UIC would then knot it at 49-all when Shearer scored five in a row to once again put the Titans in front with 6:59 remaining.

The home team then went on a 9-0 run over the next three minutes to take the lead, 58-54. Hatter ended the spurt with a quick bucket inside, but UDM could not get any closer as the Flames closed out the game.

Freshman Audrey Matteson (Monticello, IN/Twin Lakes) netted six points off the bench on a pair of 3-pointers along with a season-best four rebounds. Junior Yar Shayok (Ottawa, ON/Hillcrest) had five rebounds and a basket, while senior Lauren Allen (Rochester Hills, MI/Rochester) added three assists.

UDM held the Horizon League's leading scorer in UIC's Jasmine Bailey (20.8 ppg.) to just six points in the loss, including a scoreless first half.

Detroit led nearly in the entire opening frame as UIC started the contest with a basket before Detroit ran off eight-straight points.

After UIC got within one, 8-7, UDM went on another 8-0 run, fueled by back-to-back 3-pointers from Hatter and junior Demeisha Fambro (Detroit, MI/Crockett Tech) to take a 16-7 advantage midway through the half. Hatter had four early points and seven of the Titans first 11 in the game.

The Flames fought back to once again make it a one-possession game on two occasions, the latest at 22-21, when the red, white and blue scored six straight to fend of the home charge. Jones started it with a driving layup and after a Brown free throw, Matteson drilled a triple and the Titans led, 28-21, at the 2:21 mark.

A couple of late 3-pointers by UIC trimmed the Titan lead to one again as Detroit took a 29-27 lead into the half. The Titan defense limited the Flames' offense to just 8-of-31 (25.8%) from the field.

The game was tied twice early on in the second when Detroit went on a 13-6 spurt to retake the lead, 44-37. Shearer had eight in that run, including an old fashioned three-point play as she was leveled spotting up to shoot and was able to connect and hit the bonus.

UDM then led 46-39 when the Flames began to get hot.

Detroit will be back in action on Saturday as the Titans conclude its Chicago trip by battling Jesuit rival Loyola. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m. (EST) at the renovated Gentile Center.

Game Notes:
Hatter has now hit a 3-pointer in six-straight games and is 8-of-12 from behind the arc in that stretch...Shearer attempted a career-high 21 field goals and 14 three-pointers...It was the sixth game of the season that Jones registered five or more assists...The Titans recorded 15 or more assists as a team for the seventh time on the year...It was the third time this season Detroit has had four players in double figures as it happened in the win at Ball State and in the home victory over IPFW...Bailey did not score until the 12:37 mark in the second period...Detroit still leads the overall series, 21-19.

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