Chicago, Ill. -- The Youngstown State women's basketball team used a 19-2 late first-half run to build a 10-point halftime lead and staved off a UIC second-half rally to to post a 71-62 victory in the regular-season finale on Saturday afternoon at the UIC Pavilion.

    Senior Heather Karner led the Penguins with 23 points, including five 3-pointers, and junior Tiara Scott posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds while junior Ashley Pendleton added 14 points to lead the Penguins.

    After YSU built its lead to 12 points, 33-21, to start the second half, the Flames fought their way back into the game and took a 54-53 lead after outscoring the Penguins 33-20 in a 13-minute span. UIC's Jessie Miller , who scored 17 of her 21 points and hit five 3-pointers in the second half, put the Flames ahead with her fifth triple at the 6:20 mark.

    Leading by one, 61-60, at the 2:01 mark, Pendleton made two jumpers and the Guins made their last six free throws, including four from senior Lauren Branson, to seal the victory. Branson finished with eight points, all on free throws, and 11 assists.

    In the first half, the Guins trailed 19-12, with eight minutes left but scored 14 straight points to take a 26-19 lead at the 2:20 mark.

    Free throws from Scott brought the Guins within one, 19-18, and 3-pointers from Toni Roscoe and Karner put YSU ahead by five, 24-19, with 3:04 remaining.

    The Flames cut the lead to five, but a free throw from both Pendleton and Roscoe and another 3-pointer from Rosoce put the Penguins up 10 at the intermission.

    The Penguins shot 87.5 percent (28-of-32) from the free throw line, including 16-of-18 in the second half. The Guins also made their last free throws.

    UIC shot 58.6 percent from the field in the second half but only connected on 25 perent before halftime.

    The Guins host Detroit, Monday, March 10, at 7:05 p.m. in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament.