CHICAGO – The UIC women's basketball team (1-8) will make the short trip over to Valparaiso, Ind. on Sunday, December 13 to take on the Crusaders. The Flames will tip off with their former Horizon League foes at 1 p.m. CT inside Valparaiso's Athletics-Recreation Center.  

LAST TIME OUT

• UIC fell 80-52 against Mid-American conference foe Western Michigan on Sunday.
• Jada Nneji recorded her first double-double of the season and fourth of her career, leading the Flames with 16 points and tying her career high with 15 rebounds.
• Ahsha Spencer reeled in her first double-digit performance as a Flame, recording a career-high 11 points.
• Jealissa Presswood reached a new personal best with seven rebounds, as did Kimeira Burks with four assists.
• Abreanna Lake turned in her second consecutive eight-point performance, matching her season high.

NNEJI'S BLOCK PARTY

• Junior Jada Nneji tallied her first double-double of the season against Western Michigan, reeling in a team-high 16 points and matching her career-high with 15 rebounds.
• Sunday's double-double was the fourth of her career.
• Nneji is the Horizon League's runner-up in rebounds, averaging 9.0 boards per game.
• The junior averages 2.8 blocks per game to lead the Horizon League.
• The Ontario, Canada native has made two or more stops in every appearance so far, including a season-high five at Miami (Nov. 26).

GETTING DEFENSIVE

• The Flames rank fifth in the Horizon League in field-goal percentage defense, as opponents average 38.5 percent shooting overall.
• UIC's opponents are shooting 30.4 from beyond the arc, third lowest in the Horizon League.
• The Flames also rank third in the conference in both steals (8.11 per game) and blocks (3.78 per game).
• Four Flames rank on the League's steal list: Kimeira Burks (7th, 1.7 per game), Tylah Lampley (13th, 1.4 per game), Tiana Jackson (18th, 1.1 per game) and Abreanna Lake (20th, 1.1 per game).

SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS

• Valparaiso owns a 4-3 record after winning its last three games consecutively, defeating Bowling Green (95-90 OT), Toledo (61-54) and Detroit Mercy (77-58).
• Addison Stoller serves as the primary stat stuffer for the Crusaders, leading the team in scoring (11.7 ppg) and rebounds (6.1 per game). Shay Frederick doles out the most assists, averaging 4.0 helpers per game.
• Valpo is shooting 38.1 percent from the field and 28.9 percent beyond the arc. The Crusaders also sink 76.4 percent of their shots from the free-throw line.
• Last year UIC and Valparaiso squared off in the season opener with the Flames finishing on top, 75-65.

UP NEXT

• The Flames will wrap up their non-conference schedule at home on Wednesday, Dec. 18 against Eastern Michigan.