CHICAGO (Interstat) — A dominant second-quarter surge by the Illinois-Chicago Flames proved too much for the Northern Illinois Huskies to overcome, as the Flames secured their first victory of the season, 66-55, in a nonconference women’s basketball game on Thursday night at UIC Pavilion.

The Huskies, who remain winless, started strong, building a 14-12 lead after the first quarter. But the game turned decisively in the second period. The Flames erupted for 25 points while holding Northern Illinois to just eight, flipping a two-point deficit into a 37-22 halftime advantage. That 15-point margin created a cushion that the Huskies could not significantly dent for the remainder of the contest.

Northern Illinois mounted a challenge in the third quarter, outscoring Illinois-Chicago 19-14 behind a more efficient offensive effort, but they still trailed 51-41 heading into the final period. The Huskies could get no closer than eight points down the stretch as the Flames managed the clock and secured the win in front of an announced crowd of 513.

The victory was fueled by a commanding performance inside. Illinois-Chicago outscored Northern Illinois 30-18 in the paint and capitalized on mistakes, scoring 20 points off 15 Huskies turnovers. While the Flames struggled from beyond the arc, making only 2 of 13 attempts, they were efficient from the free-throw line, converting 14 of 16.

Northern Illinois found some success from long distance, hitting 8 of 19 three-pointers, but overall offensive struggles were evident. The Huskies shot just 34 percent from the floor and managed only five assists against 15 turnovers, resulting in a low offensive rating of 78.6 points per 100 possessions. Illinois-Chicago, by contrast, posted a 90.9 offensive rating.

Nevaeh Wingate was the standout performer for the Huskies, leading all scorers with 23 points and adding seven rebounds in 30 minutes. Cyra Conwell provided a secondary spark, scoring 10 points and dishing out two assists while playing a team-high 37 minutes.

The Flames’ attack was more balanced, led by Jessica Carrothers with 22 points and three assists. Samantha Serrano recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Julia Coleman controlled the glass with 10 rebounds to go with six points. Chantrel “Tutu” Clayton also reached double figures, contributing 11 points.

With the loss, Northern Illinois falls to 0-4 on the young season. The Huskies will look for their first win when they travel to face SIU Edwardsville on Nov. 21. Illinois-Chicago improves to 1-2 and will next play at Ball State on Nov. 24.