The UIC Flames (3-10, 0-2 HL) will open the home portion of their Horizon League schedule Thursday evening when they host Milwaukee (9-4, 1-1 HL).  It will be just UIC's second game at UIC Pavilion since November 19.  The contest, scheduled for 7:00 pm, will be televised on ESPN3.

UIC fell to Detroit Mercy Saturday afternoon to fall to 0-2 in conference play.  Taylor Toney had career highs with 19 points and 9 rebounds.  Her 19 points was also the highest output by any Flame in a game this season.  Brittany Byrd added 14 points, extending her personal streak of double digit scoring to five games.  Gabryelle Johnson and Tyra Carlsten-Handberg each had 9 rebounds, which was a career high for Carlsten-Handberg and vaulted both players into the top 10 in conference-only rebounding (3^rd and 8^th respectively).

The Flames scored 76 points and shot 43.7% from the field, putting to a quick end a scoring and shooting slump that had lasted the previous two games.  More good news came for UIC in the rebounding department.  They outrebounded Detroit Mercy 49-29, including 25-7 on the offensive glass.  That helped UIC maintain its lofty national ranking, currently at 15^th in the NCAA in offensive rebounding.

The Titans shot a blistering 55.6% from three point range against a Flames squad that entered the game third in the Horizon League in three point defense at .288.  The Titans caused UIC to tumble to 6th in the league at .315 in thee point defense.  Detroit was the opponent four of the last five times UIC allowed 40% or better from distance.  The Flames are 0-8 when their opponent is above the 40% mark going back to December 2014, but are strangely 2-1 the last three times the opposition topped 50%, before Saturday.  UIC will need to revert to form against Milwaukee, who is second in the conference from behind the arc, shooting 35% on the season with four players over 40%.

The Panthers are receiving votes in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major poll after defeating Northern Kentucky in their last game and recording a win over Wisconsin, along with a two point loss to Northwestern, in non-conference play.  Preseason All-Horizon League first team selection Steph Kostowicz leads the team with 16.8 ppg and 8.9 rpg and has eight double-doubles this year.  Milwaukee leads the conference in rebound margin and has three of its top 13 scorers.

The UIC-Milwaukee series has been quite competitive lately.  The teams have split the last eight games, though Milwaukee swept the season series last year.  The Panthers' last three wins have come by a total of 8 points.  UIC has won 11 of the last 18 games, and seven of the last nine at home by an average of 11 points.

Notes: A win would give UIC a 9-3 record in its last 12 games to begin a new calendar year…This will be Melita Emanuel-Carr's 99^th game at UIC…It will be a tough homestand for UIC, as Milwaukee was ranked 3^rd in the Horizon League preseason poll, and Saturday's opponent, Green Bay, was picked 1^st…A season high 13 players saw action against Detroit Mercy, as it was just the second game all season that every player on the roster was dressed and able to play…Brittany Byrd has led UIC in scoring in three of the last five games.