UIC returns to action following a break for final exams Saturday afternoon at the Flames Athletic Center.  The Flames (5-3) will host Evansville (3-6) with a chance at extending two winning streaks to levels not seen in three years.

Having won three straight home games, a victory over Evansville would give UIC the program's longest single-season home court winning streak since a run of eight straight wins from November 2014 through January 2015.  The Flames have won two straight games overall for the first time since January 2016, and have a chance to record the first three game streak since December 2015.

Tipoff at the Flames Athletic Center, located at 839 W. Roosevelt Road, will be at 3:00 pm.  UIC's annual winter commencement ceremony will take place at UIC Pavilion Saturday, necessitating the change in venue.  UIC is 5-2 in games at the FAC.

Starting Five

• Taylor Toney had an 18 point, seven rebound, six assist performance against Eastern Michigan, pulling her into a tie with Brittany Byrd for the team scoring lead.  Toney and Byrd each average 14.6 points per game.
• Byrd scored 17 points last Friday as one of four Flames in double figures.  It was the second time this year that four players had at least 10 points.  Gabryelle Johnson and Tia Tedford (11 points each) rounded out the quartet.
• Tedford came off the bench to post her highest scoring output of the season.  She made 3-of-4 three pointers and 4-of-5 shots overall.  She boosted her season average to 3.2 points per game, second among Flames reserves.
• Johnson is the Flames' second-leading rebounder with 7.4 boards per game (just 0.2 behind Toney).  She is the team's third-leading scorer at 8.1 points per game and has four games in double figures.  She scored seven points in the last 50 seconds against Eastern Michigan to prevent the Eagles from completing a comeback.
• UIC ranks 13th in the NCAA with 17 offensive rebounds per game.  The team is 22^nd in the country and first in the Horizon League in turnovers forced, at 22 per game.

Last Time Out

• The Flames roared back from a 15 point deficit to stun Eastern Michigan, 73-70 last Friday. 
• Two baskets off of consecutive turnovers gave the Flames the lead, but EMU answered with a 7-0 spurt.  Three pointers from Tia Tedford and Abreanna Lake put UIC on top to stay.
• The Flames shot 93% (13-14) from the free throw line, their best showing at the stripe all season.
• UIC outscored the Eagles 31-19 in the fourth quarter, making 11 of 18 (61%) of their field goals and 4 of 8 three pointers.  The 31 point outburst is UIC's second-highest total in any period since quarters were instituted in the 2015-16 season, and their highest scoring quarter against a Division I opponent.
• The Flames' comeback from 15 points down was the second largest comeback in the Regina Miller era.  It was the 11th time Miller led her troops to a win after facing a double digit deficit.  The Flames were down by 15 as late as the 3:18 mark of the third quarter.
• UIC converted 12 three-point field goals, half of their 24 total made shots.  That is a high in the six-plus seasons under Regina Miller.  The wealth was spread out, as six players made at least one triple and nobody had more than three. 

Playing the Purple Aces

• Evansville got double-digit scoring from six players in a 96-59 win over Oakland City on Thursday. 
• Macie Lively led the team with 20 points.  That was one of 14 career highs set or tied by the Purple Aces. 
• The team is a good shooting one, making 45% of their field goals and 40% of their three pointers on the season.  They have encountered adversity when being outrebounded (season average margin of -5.1) and turning the ball over (season average -6.5 margin).
• UIC and Evansville renew acquaintances for the 13th time today, and the first time since 2006. 
• Evansville has won the last five meetings and eight of the last nine dating to 1987. 
• The Flames' last victory over the Purple Aces was a 60-55 triumph in 1989.  All three of UIC's wins in the series have come at home, where they have a 3-3 overall record against UE.

 For additional game notes and links to the game notes and live stats, please see the blue box above.