CHICAGO (2/14/22) - With the game tied at 61-61 with 6.6 seconds on the clock, graduate student Janna Lewis took a pass from freshman Sonia Pereda, drove down lown and went up strong with a layup that rolled around the rim and into the basket with 0.2 seconds left giving Detroit Mercy at 63-61 win at UIC on Valentine's Day. With the game-winning bucket, the Titans saw its 29-game losing streak dating back to the 2020-21 season come to an end. 

Lewis finished with 12 points on 6-for- 9 shooting with four rebounds. Sophomore Lucia Fleta Robles poured in a career and team-high 16 points on 5-of-11 shooting, 2-for-4 from 3-point range and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Senior Monique Pruitt posted her first career double-double with 12 points and a career-best 10 rebounds with a block, steal and 1-for-2 mark from 3-point range. With the Titans in foul trouble, freshman Sonia Pereda came off the bench and dished out a career-high six assists while freshman Akyia Baker converted on a clutch three-point play giving Detroit Mercy a 58-57 (1-23, 1-16 HL) with 1:26 left. 

Sophomore Irene Murua grabbed nine boards with five points while graduate student Brandi Washington also added five points.

With a two point lead opening the fourth quarter, Pruitt hit Detroit Mercy's second 3-pointer of the game. UIC (2-20, 1-16 HL) then outscored the Titans 12-8 to retake the lead at 53-51 with 5:11 left in the game. Fleta Robles once again delivered with a layup pulling the Titans within two at 57-55. Baker then had a strong take to the hoop hitting a lay-up while being fouled in the process. She converted the ensuing free throw giving the Titans a one point lead at 58-57 with 1:26 to go. The Flames then took a one-point lead, 59-58, splitting a pair of free throws on two different trips to the line. With 57 seconds left, Fleta Robles buried a clutch 3-pointer from the corner to move Detroit Mercy ahead once again at 61-59. UIC's Leah Yardbrough tied the game with a layup with 35 seconds to go. After a jump ball situation, the Titans kept possession but only had one second left on shot clock and 6.6 seconds on the game clock. However, Detroit Mercy caught a break as the inbounds pass underneath the basket was a kicked ball by a UIC defender which reset the shot clock. This in turn, set the stage and enabled Lewis' heroics to get off the game-winning shot with just 0.2 seconds remaining.  

Fleta Robles opened up the third quarter hitting four consecutive free throws followed by a fast break layup from Pruitt to cap off a 7-1 run giving the Titans a 31-27 lead. Fleta Robles then followed with a nice take to the basket and hit the Titans' first 3-pointer of the game giving her nine points in the quarter to move Detroit Mercy ahead 38-33 with 4:23 left in the quarter. UIC pulled within one point, 42-41, before a Daija Moses layup and Imani McNeal free throw gave the Titans a 43-41 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

UIC responded with a 9-1 spurt to move at 22-20 to open the second quarter. The Flames ended up outscoring the Titans 13-5 overall to take a 26-24 lead at the half. 

After trailing 9-4 early, Washington connected on one of two and-1 opportunities scoring five points to spark an 11-0 run giving Detroit Mercy a 19-13 lead at the end of the first quarter. 

The Titans return home for a #HLWBB game against Purdue Fort Wayne on Thursday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m.