CHICAGO – Clemisha Prackett matched her career high of 18 points Sunday afternoon and also pulled down 13 rebounds for a double-double, but Indiana State struggled on the offensive side in a 70-57 defeat to UIC inside Credit Union 1 Arena.
 
Tierney Kelsey was also in double-figures for the Sycamores with 12 points, while Kennedy Claybrooks and Da'Naria Washington added seven points apiece. Claybrooks also dished out seven assists.
 
Indiana State recovered from a slow start to close the first quarter on a 12-2 run, and the Trees took the lead with a three from Allen and a three-point play from Kelsey midway through the second quarter. The Sycamores led 28-24 following baskets from Kelsey and Amerie Flowers, but UIC closed the second on a 12-2 run to take the lead for good. UIC led by 16 early in the third but the Sycamores didn't go down without a fight. Prackett and Washington combined for 11 in the third to pull the Trees within seven, and early fourth quarter buckets from Kelsey and Samiyah Briggs kept the Sycamores in striking distance. The Trees made just two baskets, a pair of Prackett layups, over the final six minutes on their way to a setback in the Near West Side.
 
First Half
UIC opened the game on a 6-0 run to force an early Sycamore timeout, but the Trees turned things around to close the first quarter. Six early points from Prackett, along with layups from Washington and Claybrooks pulled the Trees within three late in the period. Kelsey knocked down a trey inside the final minute of the frame, as the Sycamores closed the quarter on a 12-2 run to go into the second quarter knotted up at 14.
 
Indiana State took its first lead of the game early in the second quarter on a jumper from Claybrooks, and Allen connected on a three-ball to keep the Blue and White in front. A three-point play from Kelsey midway through the frame had the Sycamores ahead 24-23, and baskets from Claybrooks and Flowers just past the halfway point of the period gave the Trees their largest lead at 28-24. Indiana State struggled down the stretch, though, as UIC closed the frame on a 12-2 run to lead 36-30 at the break.
 
Second Half 
Similar to the first quarter, the Sycamores struggled early in the third as UIC used a 10-0 run to extend its lead to 46-30. Indiana State countered with a 9-0 run to pull back within seven, as Washington, Allen and Prackett all added scoring to force a UIC timeout. Layups from Prackett and Claybrooks kept things rolling for the Blue and White, and Washington added a basket just before the horn to get the Sycamores' deficit down to 53-46 heading to the fourth quarter.
 
Kelsey and Briggs kept the Sycamores within seven following early layups to begin the fourth quarter, but the Sycamores struggled from the field in the closing stages of the game. A pair of Prackett layups accounted for Indiana State's only baskets in the final six minutes, as the Sycamores slumped to a 70-57 defeat in the Windy City.
 
News and Notes

• Clemisha Prackett matched her career high of 18 points in Sunday's game, marking the second straight game with 18 points for the junior forward. She also added 13 rebounds, her most against an MVC foe, for her fifth double-double of the season.
• Kennedy Claybrooks's seven assists were her most in a game since November 16 at Austin Peay.
• Tierney Kelsey scored in double-figures for the 13th time this season in Sunday's game.
• Indiana State's bench continued to be a focal point, as the Sycamore reserves finished with 33 points in Sunday's game.
• More than 60 percent of Indiana State's scoring in Sunday's game came in the paint, as the Sycamores tallied 36 paint points.
• Indiana State's 3-point defense had struggled in recent games, but the Sycamores limited UIC to a 3-for-15 clip from behind the arc Sunday (20 percent).
• Indiana State committed just eight turnovers, its fewest against a Division I opponent this season.
• Rebounds played a major role in Sunday's game, as the Sycamores were minus-16 in rebound margin (53-37).

 
Up Next
Indiana State has a week before playing its next game January 11 at Bradley. Tipoff from Peoria is set for 3 p.m.

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