CHICAGO, Ill. – Shronda Butts and Sidney Smith led SIUE in scoring with 12 points each, but the UIC Flames downed the Cougars 63-52 at the UIC Pavilion.

The Flames, 5-1, made an 11-0 run early in the first half that proved to be the difference. After Micah Jones hit a layup with 16:42 left in the opening frame to put SIUE up 8-7, UIC countered and held the lead the rest of the way.

"We were not the most aggressive team out there, and we've got to be the most aggressive team every night," said SIUE Head Coach Paula Buscher.

Terri Bender, who scored a pair of free throws to put the Flames up 9-8 early, was the game's leading scorer mostly by converting her freethrows. Bender scored 23 points and was 15 of 19 from the free throw line.

"She did a great job of penetrating against our zone and man-to-man and drawing fouls," said Buscher.

Ruvanna Campbell, who entered the game leading the nation in rebounding, finished with eight rebounds and 14 points. Melita Emmanuel Carr added 10.

Butts led the Cougars with six assists along with her 12 points. Smith matched her season best in three-pointers made with four.

UIC held a 28-16 lead at halftime. SIUE would outscore the Flames 36-35 in the second half but were not able to pull close enough.

SIUE, now 2-4, and UIC each finished with 22 turnovers. The Flames, however, won the battle of the boards 40-28, including 18 offensive rebounds.

"We need to step up and be a better rebounding team," added Buscher.

Gwen Adams led the Cougars with nine rebounds.

The Cougars now head to Missouri State in Springfield, Mo., Saturday for a 7 p.m. matchup against the Bears.