UIC will hit the road again and travel to Youngstown State for a Thursday afternoon showdown that will result in one team picking up its first Horizon League win of the season.

The Flames (3-12, 0-4 HL) have lost five in a row overall, while the Penguins (4-10, 0-3 HL) have dropped six of their last seven, meaning that two teams hungry for a win will face off in the Beeghly Center.

A personal milestone is also within reach.  With just three assists, Terri Bender will move into fourth place on UIC's all time assist list.  She logged 10 assists, one shy of her career high, against Youngstown State on January 8, 2015.  The redshirt senior enters play with 419 assists in her career.  She is a dozen shy of climbing all the way to second place, a number she could achieve on the current road trip.

UIC All-Time Assists

1. Chrissy Dizon (2002-06)...............454 2. Joanne McCarthy (1992-97).........430 3. Penny Armstrong (1991-95)........427 4. Jo Ellen Swanson (1982-87).........421 5. Terri Bender (2012-present)....419 6. Tasia Georganas (1989-93).........386 7. Jessie Miller (2006-10).................339

The Flames are coming off one of their best performances of the season.  They shot 45.5% from the floor against Green Bay, 40% on threes, both of which were the highest totals allowed by the Phoenix all season.  Green Bay entered action second in the nation in scoring defense (47.6 ppg), but UIC put up 65 points.  That total is second only to then-#1 Notre Dame against the Phoenix this season.

Brittany Byrd led the way for UIC, scoring 17 points and making 5 threes.  Tyra Carlsten-Handberg was right behind her with 14 points and 4 threes.  Terri Bender chipped in 10 to give the Flames at least three players in double digits for the fifth time in the last six games.

Putting up those shooting numbers established some consistency for a Flames squad that had struggled to convert its field goals.  UIC has now shot better than 40% in three straight games and has set a high water mark in made three pointers in back to back outings.  They made 10 triples against Green Bay, marking the first time since last February 2 that they made that many (11 against Wright State).

Youngstown State is no stranger to three pointers.  They have made 10 or more four times this season.  47% of their field goal attempts have come from beyond the arc in Horizon League play, easily the highest percentage in the conference.

Youngstown State enters action searching for their first Horizon League win.  They fell to Northern Kentucky, 87-81 in overtime, Saturday to drop to 0-3 in conference play.  The Penguins erased a 16 point fourth quarter deficit to force the extra session.  Mary Dunn had 18 points to lead the team.  She is their leading scorer on the season with 13.6 points per game.  Her 4.5 rebounds also lead the squad.  Indiya Benjamin (6.7 assists per HL game) is second in conference assists, and Jenna Hirsch is also in the top 5.

The Penguins swept the season series from UIC last year, following a four game stretch in which the teams alternated victories.  The Flames are 10-7 all time in Youngstown but the teams have split the last 6 games there.  UIC holds a 19-15 overall lead in the series and has the longest winning streak by either team at 8 games (2003-06).

Fans can watch the action on ESPN3 and monitor the live stats on YSUSports.com.  Updates will also be provided on the teams' Twitter page @UIC_WBasketball.