CHICAGO, Ill. - Senior Ashley Green scored a game-high 23 points and forced a late tie in regulation but UIC held on for a 72-70 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team Wednesday evening at the UIC Pavilion.
 
The Panthers (8-17, 4-9 Horizon League) used a 15-4 scoring run to get back into the game down the stretch against the Flames (15-11, 5-8 Horizon League). Green's jumper in the paint tied the contest at 70-70 with 27.7 seconds but Kendyl Nunn's putback with 13 seconds remaining decided the outcome. UWM had one final chance to force overtime but could not convert.
 
"All credit to UIC. They had some players that really stepped up and hit some big shots for them," Milwaukee head coach Kyle Rechlicz said. "When you look at the stat sheet – we had a positive assist-to-turnover ratio, shooting the percentage that we did and only giving UIC 12 offensive rebounds – you would never guess that we lost this game."
 
Green just missed another double-double, finishing with nine rebounds. Her 23 points give her 1,569 for her career to move her into fifth place on the all-time scoring list, passing Angela Rodriguez (1,564).
 
Freshman Jenny Lindner scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds. Classmate Steph Kostowicz tied her career high with 12 points off the bench on an efficient 6-of-7 shooting but was limited by foul trouble, playing just 14 minutes.
 
Junior Jaleesa Armstrong finished with a career-high 12 assists, just off the program record of 14 and the most in a UWM game in over 20 years. She had just three turnovers and added four points and a pair of steals.
 
"Jaleesa played outstanding tonight," Rechlicz said. "She took care of the ball against an aggressive team that is very easy to turn the ball over against. She really handled herself and the 12 assists was an amazing accomplishment."
 
The Flames pulled out the win despite missing 15 free throws and with player-of-the-year candidate Ruvanna Campbell in foul trouble with three in the first half. She ended the night with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Five players finished in double-figures, led by 16 points by Melita Emanuel-Carr.
 
Trailing by 13 with just over eight minutes to play, the Panthers never gave in. A 6-0 spurt got things started as part of that 15-4 run that turned the night around. Lindner's fastbreak layup and free throw cut it to 66-64 with 3:39 to play and it was back-and-forth the final four minutes.
 
"I wish we could have played the first 27 minutes like we played the final 13," Rechlicz said. "We played with a lot of heart and energy down the stretch – it was just determination to come back and try and win on the road. That does make me proud of my players. This is a heartbreaking loss for us because it's a game that we really wanted and needed when you look at the standings. But I can't shy away from our players' effort by any means."
 
The Panthers trailed by seven at intermission at 38-31, plagued by 14 team fouls. Green was the majority of the offense for the Panthers in the opening 20 minutes, netting 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting.
 
Kostowicz had six in the first half, with her first basket trimming the deficit to one at 9-8 early. She stayed involved before picking up three fouls and her rebound and putback tied the contest at 16-16 at the 9:10 mark.
 
The Flames tried to pull away, using six in a row to go up 28-20, but UWM would fight back, getting back within four prior to the halftime scoreline.
 
Milwaukee shot well on the night, making 50.9 percent (28-of-55) of its attempts from the floor.
 
Up next, the Panthers close out the month of February with "Senior Day" against Cleveland State Saturday. The contest is also UWM's "PINK OUT" day. Tip off is set for 2 p.m.