The UIC women's basketball team will look to put a cold second half in Youngstown behind them as they continue the hunt for their first Horizon League win Saturday afternoon in Cleveland.  The Flames (3-13, 0-5 HL) and the Cleveland State Vikings (8-7, 3-1 HL) will tip off at noon at the Wolstein Center.

In the Flames' 70-54 loss to Youngstown State Thursday, things were even through the first half.  UIC shot 41.7%, continuing the trend from their previous three games in which they shot over 40% in each contest.  The halftime score was knotted at 35 and it was anyone's game, but it was the Penguins who seized control in the second half.  UIC shot just 33.3% after the break and totaled 38.3% for the game, breaking their three game streak.

The 70 points allowed represented a new low in conference play.  In fact, each of their last three opponents has scored 9 fewer points than the previous one.  The Flames still rank near the bottom of the conference in points allowed, and will work to bring that average down against a Cleveland State team who averages 63.9 points per game this season.

Terri Bender led UIC with 13 points and moved up to fourth on the school's all-time assist list with four in the game.  She has 423 in her Flames career, and with four more Saturday she will ascend to third place.

UIC All-Time Assists

1. Chrissy Dizon (2002-06)...............454 2. Joanne McCarthy (1992-97).........430 3. Penny Armstrong (1991-95)........427 4. Terri Bender (2012-present)....423 5. Jo Ellen Swanson (1982-87).........421 6. Tasia Georganas (1989-93).........386 7. Jessie Miller (2006-10)..................339

Bender is approaching another milestone as her illustrious career in the blue and red is in its final months.  Saturday's game will be her 99^th career start and put her on track to become the first Flame to register 100 career starts since 2012 in UIC's next game – fittingly, at Milwaukee, Bender's home town.

Teodora Zagorac had her best game since returning from an injury Dec. 31.  She had six points and nine rebounds, which led the team and tied for game high honors.  It was her highest output on the boards since back-to-back 10 rebound performances to begin the season.

The Flames have lost 13 consecutive games at Cleveland State.  Their last triumph at the home of the Vikings was a 68-54 win on Feb. 3, 2007.  The Vikings lead the overall series, 37-33, though the teams split last year's regular season series.

The Vikings enter play in a four way tie for second place in the Horizon League.  They edged above .500 for the season with a 71-60 win over Valparaiso Thursday night.  Ahsanti Abshaw had a double-double (17 points, 11 rebounds) and Khayla Livingston had 20 points as the Vikings used a 19-7 third quarter to propel themselves to victory.  Abshaw leads the team in scoring and rebounding; she and Livingston are both in the top 5 in conference scoring.

All the action from Cleveland can be seen on ESPN3.  Live stats will be available via CSUVikings.com, and UIC's Twitter and Facebook feeds will provide updates as well.