The Basics
Final Score: Detroit Mercy 42, UIC 36
Records: Detroit Mercy 3-13 (1-4 HL), UIC 3-14 (1-4 HL)
Location: Chicago, Ill. (Credit Union 1 Arena)
CHICAGO (1/13/2019) -- Junior
Zoey Oatis notched her second career double-double with a game-high 16 points, career-best 13 rebounds and a career-high six steals and the University of Detroit Mercy women's basketball team held off host UIC down the stretch for a 42-36 road victory in Chicago on Sunday.
It was the third-straight victory over the Flames for the Titans and the first Horizon League win for the red, white and blue this season. Detroit Mercy gained the lead midway early in the third quarter and after UIC tied the game 32-32 midway through the fourth, Detroit Mercy finished the game on a 10-4 run to seal the victory.
Oatis' 13 rebounds were a career-high and the most for a Titan player since Haleigh Ristovski had 14 boards against Wright State on March 6, 2017. Senior guard
Lola Ristovski tallied season-highs across the board with nine points, five assists and four steals in her first start of the season and freshman forward
Paige Bellman added nine points.
The 36 points Detroit Mercy allowed were the fewest for an opponent since Marygrove scored just 27 in a Titans' 68-27 victory on Dec. 27, 2010 and the lowest for a Division I opponent since Detroit Mercy gave up only 34 points as it defeated Loyola 49-34 on Feb. 12, 2005.
Detroit Mercy closed the game strong, scoring four consecutive points after UIC tied the game, 32-32. Junior
Ashley Miller finished off a Bellman feed for a lay-up with 5:29 left and then Bellman scored a bucket of her own with 4:22 remaining as Detroit Mercy went ahead 36-32.
After the Flames closed to within two, 36-34, senior guard
Brittney Jackson -- known for her clutch shots late in games -- drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 2:11 remaining to push the lead back up to five points, 39-34. It was the 100th career 3-pointer for the senior from Brooklyn, N.Y.
Ristovski grabbed one of her four steals with 1:05 left and after a UIC foul, Oatis sank 1-of-2 from the free throw line as Detroit Mercy led 40-35 with 39 ticks left. Ristovski then swiped another ball with 34 seconds left on the ensuing possession. After a Titans' turnover, UIC converted on one free throw to pull to within four points, 40-36, with 16 seconds remaining. UIC was able to force another turnover, but the Titans defense forced UIC's 26th turnover of the contest with under 10 seconds left.
Ristovski sank a pair of free throws with 4.4 seconds left on the clock to seal the victory.
Both defenses were up to the task early with Detroit Mercy holding UIC scoreless for the first 5:30 of the contest, forcing seven turnovers in that span. Detroit Mercy had a 5-0 lead, but the Flames scored the next 10 points to hold a 10-5 edge at the first quarter buzzer.
Oatis had seven points and seven rebounds in the second stanza alone and nine points, 10 rebounds in the first half to help pull the Titans to within two, 19-17, at the halftime break. Oatis and Ristovski combined for all 12 of the Titan points in the second quarter. Oatis scored seven-straight Titan points with two field goals and three free throws, before Ristovski finished the half off with a jumper in the paint and a 3-pointer with 90 seconds left before halftime.
Oatis had six offensive rebounds in the contest and Detroit Mercy finished with a season-best 18 offensive caroms in the game. Detroit Mercy had 14 steals, which was the second-most this season and added a season-high 12 assists -- five from Ristovski and four from Jackson. Freshman
Sophia DiMilia, Jackson and Miller all each had five boards. Miller had four on the offensive end. The 41 rebounds from the Titans -- 25 in the first half -- were also tied for the most all season.
The Titan defense -- strong all afternoon -- held UIC to a 24.4 percent shooting clip and forced 26 UIC turnovers total. The Flames scored under 20 points in both halves and their 36-point total was the third lowest for UIC in the 2018-19 season.
Titan News & Notes
• The 36 points scored by UIC were the fewest for a Division I opponent since Loyola scored 34 in a 49-34 win on Feb. 12, 2005.
• Jackson sank her 100th career 3-pointer, becoming the 16th Titan in school history to reach that plateau.
• Oatis notched the second double-double of her Titan career. She had one in the opener against Michigan-Dearborn.
• Oatis' 13 rebounds and six steals were both career-highs. It was her third game of the season of five or more steals.
• Oatis' 13 boards were also the most since Haleigh Ristovski had 14 caroms on March 6, 2017.
• Ristovski tallied her third career game of five or more assists and first since her freshman season.
• Her nine points were also a season-high and her four steals were just one shy of her career-high.
• Ristovski was making her first start of the season and 38th career start.
• Detroit Mercy pushed its season total of steals to 143, which has already topped last season's total of 130.
• The 14 steals were the second-most all season, only behind the 16 thefts the Titans had at home against Omaha.
• It was the 54th meeting all-time between the two longtime Horizon League programs (Titans lead, 30-24).
• Head coach
Bernard Scott is 5-2 all-time against the Flames in his four seasons at the helm of the Titans.
Up Next
Detroit Mercy returns home next weekend, hosting Green Bay on Friday and Milwaukee on Sunday from Calihan Hall. Friday's game is set for 7 p.m. on Dick Vitale Court, while Sunday's contest is slated for a 1 p.m. tip-off. Admission into both games is $6 for adults. Both games may also be seen live via ESPN3.com.
