CHICAGO, Ill. -- Freshman Tamya Sims (Milwaukee, Wis./Oak Creek) collected team highs of 12 points, six rebounds and three blocks in her debut, but Illinois-Chicago used a strong second half to blow open a four-point game at the half and top Bradley 71-43 in the season opener for both teams Friday night at the UIC Pavilion. 

Sims became the first Bradley freshman to score in double figures in their first game as a Brave since Katie Yohn and Olivia Allen had 16 and 15 points, respectively, as freshmen in the 2009-10 season opener.  In addition, Sims joined Bradley Hall of Fame member Val Wancket (12 points & 12 rebounds in 1987) and Kelly Krumwiede (22 points & 8 rebounds in 2005) as the only Bradley freshman with at least 12 points and six rebounds in their debut.

A sluggish first half saw both teams shoot under 31 percent and UIC held a slim 28-24 lead at the break as Bradley limited UIC to 30.6 percent shooting in the opening 20 minutes.  The Braves battled adversity from the start as senior Michelle Young (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury) went to the bench roughly 90 seconds into the game with a pair of fouls.  Despite the early foul trouble for Young, the Braves faced just a four-point deficit at the half.

UIC's Melita Emanuel-Carr knocked down an elbow jumper on the first possession of the second half.  After Young answered with a corner two, the Flames rattled off fifteen straight points capped by Giselle Truiett's free throw. The Flames completed a 21-3 run to begin the half on an Emanuel-Carr floater in the lane and UIC led 49-27 with just under 13 minutes to play.

The Flames crashed the boards in the second half, outrebounding the Braves 27-10 in the second stanza and UIC, which won the Women's Basketball Invitational title last season, went on to win the contest 71-43.

Sims was the only Bradley player in double figures with her team-high 12 points.  The Braves were limited to 30.4 percent shooting in the setback.  Fellow freshman Anneke Schlueter (Ulm, Germany/Max-Weber-Schule) dished out four assists to go with her seven points and she made the lone three-pointer of the night for the Braves.  Bradley started four newcomers, including three freshmen Friday against the Flames. 

Preseason First-Team All-Horizon League pick Ruvanna Campbell led UIC with 11 points, 16 rebounds, three assists, four blocks and three steals.  She was one of three Flames in double figures, joined by Melita Emanuel-Carr (15 points) and Terri Benter (14 points).

Bradley continues a five-game road swing to open the season Tuesday with a 5:30 p.m. game against 18th-ranked DePaul at Allstate Arena in Chicago, Ill.