Illinois-Chicago holds off YSU's late comeback attempt

CHICAGO -- The University of Illinois-Chicago women's basketball team used a 17-7 run late in the second half, turning a one-point deficit into a nine-point lead, and held off a late Youngstown State comeback for a 74-64 victory Saturday at the UIC Pavilion in a Horizon League game.
Youngstown State (5-15, 1-8 HL) junior Kristy Gaudiose, who scored a team-high 16 points, made her second 3-point goal of the game to give the Penguins a 51-50 advantage with 7:41 remaining in the game.
However, UIC (9-11, 5-4 HL) responded by scoring 17 of the next 24 points, capped by a 3-point goal by Jackie Parker to take a nine-point lead with 2:36 remaining.
YSU cuts deficit to five
The Penguins managed to slice the Flames' lead back down to five, 67-62, on two free throws by Jessica Schloemp and a layup by Ashlee Russo at the 1:24 mark.
Russo and Schloemp each finished with 14 points.
UIC's Chrissy Dizon, who scored a career-high 30 points, split a pair of free throws to give the Flames a six-point lead, 68-62, with 36 seconds remaining.
And Kelly True converted a YSU turnover into a layup to seal the victory and give UIC an eight-point edge.
Youngstown State out-rebounded UIC, 38-27, but the Flames shot 59.3 percent in the second half (16-of-27) and 50 percent (27-of-54) for the game.
The Penguins return home to host Butler Thursday at 5:15 p.m. at the Beeghly Center.