The Youngstown State women's basketball team dropped a 59-53 decision to UIC on Thursday night at the Credit Union 1 Arena.

The Penguins fall to 11-10 overall and 4-6 in the Horizon League while the Flames improve to 3-18 overall and 2-8 in the league.

Junior Chelsea Olson and freshman Quinece Hatcher led the Penguins with 13 points apiece.

Leading the Flames was Kimeira Burks with 20 points and Tiana Jackson who had 18 points. That pair combined for 27 points in the second half.

The Flames turned in an impressive night at the free-throw line going 14-of-16 despite shooting just 55.2 percent for the season coming into the game.

Due to staffing issues, no other stats are available at this time.

After a scoreless first two minutes, the Flames jumped out 10-5 lead heading into the first media break. UIC continued to make shots closing out the first quarter on a 14-2 run to take an 18-7 lead. Hatcher ended nearly a six-minute scoring drought by the Penguins with a layup at the 35-second mark.

In the second quarter, YSU outscored the Flames 18-6, with the help of a 16-2 run that put the Penguins ahead 23-20 at the 3:02 mark. The Penguins closed out the half with a 25-23 lead despite a number of turnovers and poor shooting in the first quarter.

UIC hit the first basket of the second half for either team at the 5:06 mark to regain the lead, 26-25. Despite a slow start to the second half, the Penguins held the lead headed into the fourth, 35-34. Maddie Schires knocked down a pair of 3-pointers, and Taylor Petit hit a floater in the lane as the time expired to give YSU the lead.

The Flames came out hot in the fourth going on a 7-0 run to retake the lead. The Penguins' first points in the fourth came at the 4:51 mark on an Olson and-one bucket to make the score 41-38 in favor of the Flames.

UIC never trailed the rest of the way and made 12-of-14 free throws to ice the game. 

The Penguins will continue their road swing on Saturday when they travel to IUPUI. Tipoff at The Jungle is set for 2 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on 570 WKBN and ESPN3.