TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Clemisha Prackett recorded her eighth double-double of the season Thursday night, with four other Sycamores scoring in double figures, but the Blue and White came up short in the final quarter to fall 95-80 to UIC inside Hulman Center. 
 
Tierney Kelsey led the Sycamores with 19 points, seven assists and two steals, while Samiyah Briggs followed closely behind with a season-high 16 points. Prackett added 12 points and led the team with 10 rebounds. Kayla Smith and Jayci Allen both record 10 points a piece. 
 
Indiana State briefly led in the first quarter, but UIC went 7-for-10 from behind the arc in the opening half to remain in front for the majority of the first 20 minutes. The Trees were within two possessions for most of the first three quarters, and closed the gap to two points in the fourth, but the visitors pulled away for good with a 15-2 run late in the final period.
 
First Half
Kelsey opened the scoring for the Trees with a fast break three, followed quickly by another three in transition from Briggs. The Sycamores and Flames traded baskets throughout the frame, resulting in three different ties throughout the opening minutes. UIC went on a 9-4 run to go up five with less than a minute remaining in the quarter, but Briggs hit a buzzer-beater to pull the Blue and White within 28-25 after one. 
 
The Flames opened the second quarter on a 10-3 run to build their lead to 10, their largest of the game in the half. Kelsey quickly responded with an and-one driving layup to end the visitors' scoring streak as the halfway point of the quarter neared. The Sycamores cut UIC's lead down to 40-38 following a trio of Kayla Smith free throws with 3:27 left in the period. Allen tacked on a trey minutes later to pull the Sycamores within a point at 46-45 with just over a minute left. The Flames responded with their own three, before Briggs hit a pair of late free throws to make it 49-47 at the half. 
 
Second Half
The Flames opened the half on a 11-4 run, pushing their advantage back out to nine. Prackett and Kelsey connected on layups to bring the Sycamores back within five near the midway point of the period. The Sycamore defense held UIC scoreless from the field for nearly four minutes in the latter half of the frame, giving up just two free throws, but the Blue and White were unable to pull ahead. The teams traded seven points apiece to end the quarter with UIC ahead 68-62, with Briggs scoring five of the Sycamores' seven.
 
Early treys from Smith and Allen had the Sycamores in business early in the fourth, as Indiana State cut UIC's lead down to a pair less than two minutes into the frame. The Trees remained within two possessions for the first half of the quarter, before UIC finally pulled away with a 15-2 run. Late baskets from Kennedy Claybrooks, Kelsey and Ruth Sodipe gave the Sycamores their highest-scoring output since New Year's Day, but the Blue and White dropped their fifth straight game by a 95-80 margin.
 
News and Notes

• Samiyah Briggs recorded a season high of 16 points in Thursday's game, knocking down multiple threes for the seventh time this season.
• Clemisha Prackett recorded her team-leading eighth double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Prackett ranks in the top five in the MVC in double-doubles despite starting just five games this season.
• Tierney Kelsey tied her season and career high in assists with seven in Thursday's game, with the sophomore guard also accomplishing the feat Nov. 14 at Western Kentucky. 
• Kayla Smith scored in double figures for the first time since Jan. 15 vs. Belmont, finishing Thursday's game with 10.
• Jayci Allen recorded her sixth straight game with double-digit scoring off the bench, finishing with 10 and knocking down multiple threes for the fifth consecutive contest. 
• Camariyana Tavares recorded her first start as a Sycamore in Thursday's game, finishing with two points, four rebounds and a steal in 20 minutes of action. 
• Thursday's lineup (Briggs, Claybrooks, Kelsey, Smith, Tavares) was the Sycamores' eighth different starting lineup combination this season.
• All eight players who were available for the Sycamores in Thursday's game found their way onto the scoresheet.
• Thursday's game was the fifth game this season where five Sycamores scored in double-figures, the last one being vs. Evansville on Jan. 18.
• Indiana State played Thursday's game without two starters in Da'Naria Washington and Amerie Flowers.

 
Postgame Press Conference Presented by Team Green Law: Marc Mitchell, Tierney Kelsey, Clemisha Prackett


Up Next
Indiana State closes its two-game homestand Saturday afternoon with a 2 p.m. against Southern Illinois for Senior Day. The Sycamores will recognize their six-athlete senior class prior to the game.
 
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