CHICAGO, Ill. – Indiana State used a strong defensive performance and third quarter surge to put out the Illinois-Chicago Flames' fire, 61-40, on Tuesday afternoon in front of 385 people at Credit Union 1 Arena.
 
The Sycamores even their record back up at 2-2 while UIC falls to 0-5 on the season.
 
Del'Janae Williams gave her best performance in a Sycamore uniform in Chicago, finishing the game with 23 points, including five threes, to go along with an impressive seven steals and five boards.
 
Junior LeAndra Echi did her part to make sure Indiana State walked away with a win, finishing with her second double-double of the year behind 12 points and 10 boards. Echi also chipped-in six blocks, two assists and two steals.
 
In the post, Jamyra McChristine was a dominant presence for the blue and white, finishing with 13 points on 6-9 shooting to go along with six rebounds and three assists. As a team, ISU held the rebound edge, 46-41, despite trailing in the category at halftime.
 
Defensively, ISU held the Flames to just 24.5% shooting and 23.5% from behind the arc while earning 14 steals and forcing 23 turnovers. They also went up for nine blocks and tallied 15 assists to end the game.
 
Offensively, Indiana State was 23-66 from the field for 34.8% and finished with a 30-16 advantage in points in the paint as well as a 17-5 edge in second chance points.
 
It was a defensive struggle early in the first, but with 6:33 left Hattie Westerfeld took a charge and sparked a Williams lay-in to get the scoring started. The Sycamores held the Flames scoreless for the first five minutes of the quarter, earning three steals and forcing five turnovers to lead 5-0 at the first media timeout.
 
UIC finally scored at 4:06 off of a three from Tylah Lampley, which heated the Flames up. They would tie the game at 10 before a Williams trey would reclaim the lead for the Trees. ISU ended the first quarter with a two-point advantage, 16-14.
 
The Sycamores recommitted to defense to start the second period, as Jasmine Elder drew a charge just 30 seconds into the frame. ISU and UIC would exchange blows over the next five minutes before a McChristine lay-in just before the media break gave the blue and white a four-point lead.
 
Williams then went on a defensive tear, recording three steals over the last five minutes and getting another layup to push her point total to 12. Echi and Elder clamped down on the defensive end even further, both recording another charge before the break.
 
For the period, Indiana State held the Flames to just seven points and 11.8% shooting.
 
Indiana State opened the second half on a 15-2 run, which was sparked by four quick points from McChristine and finished by a Williams steal and back-to-back Echi layups. UIC was again held to seven points in the third on just 8.3% shooting. Five of their seven points came at the line.
 
Through the first five minutes of the fourth, ISU only allowed three points, but the offense for the blue and white did slow down. The Trees shot just 18.8% in the final frame, but managed to gain their biggest lead of the afternoon at 26 with 7:10 left to go.
 
The Flames were held to just 20.8% shooting for the second half and 14.3% from deep. UIC was led by Tylah Lampley who ended the game with 14 points.
 
The blue and white will now have a week until their next game when they travel west to Bould, Colo. for a showdown with PAC-12 Colorado.
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Women's Basketball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.