The UIC women's basketball team (2-5, NR/NR) will set their alarms and take an early, short bus ride north for a Tuesday morning showdown with Northwestern (8-1, RV/RV).  In search of their first win away from home and their first win this month, the Flames will look to continue their hot shooting from the second half of last Saturday's game, while contending with two of the Big Ten's best players.

UIC shot 50% in the second half against Fort Wayne thanks in part to Melita Emanuel-Carr's 12 point third quarter.  They took the lead with under two minutes to play, but couldn't overcome a late Mastodon run.  Taylor Toney had 11 of her game-high 17 points in the second half, and Laura Litchfield contributed 11.

Toney was one of the Horizon League's Top Players of the Week after making her third straight start against Fort Wayne and playing the entire game.  She was six for 15 from the floor and is shooting 42.6% this season.  She is now the Flames' leader in scoring and minutes.

Tuesday's contest will feature two of the NCAA's premier active point guards.  UIC's Terri Bender is 6^th among active players in steals and ranks in the top 25 in assists.  Northwestern's Ashley Deary is number one on both of those lists.

Bender now stands alone in 5^th place on UIC's all-time steals list.  Against Fort Wayne, she had one steal to break a tie with Briana Hinkle, and she had four assists to move into a tie for 5^th place on that list.

The Wildcats are second in the country in blocked shots and have committed the 19^th-fewest turnovers, thanks to stellar players in the frontcourt and backcourt.  Forward Nia Coffey is an All-American candidate with 21.4 points and nearly 12 rebounds per game – both in the top 13 nationally.  Deary has a 1.93 assist to turnover ratio and almost four steals per game.

Coffey has made the All-Big Ten first team the past two years, and Deary was the conference's Defensive Player of the Year last season.

Northwestern is coming off a win at Milwaukee, and has victories over #16 Florida and UIC's next opponent, Virginia, this year.  They are 7-0 at home, while UIC has yet to win a road game.  The Flames are 4-7 all-time in Evanston, though the Wildcats hold an 18-7 lead in the overall series.

The success – or lack thereof – that Northwestern has on three point shots could play a major role in the outcome of the game.  UIC is 36^th in the nation in three point defense, allowing their opponents to make just 26.6% of their attempts from behind the arc.  Northwestern averages over five made threes per game on 32% shooting.  But in their last game, the 'Cats made just one of 17 treys. 

UIC has played ten of the Big Ten's 14 members with Northwestern the most common among them.  The teams last met during a home-and-home series in 2013-14, both Wildcat wins.  The Flames took three of the previous six matchups dating back to 2002, with two of those wins coming at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Tip-off is at 11:00 Tuesday morning.  Live stats will be available through Northwestern's website and the Big Ten Network's digital arm will have the broadcast (see blue box above for links).