CHICAGO – The UIC women's basketball team (0-1) continues its season-opening road series as it travels to Ypsilanti, Mich. to take on Eastern Michigan (1-0). The Flames and Eagles are set to square off on Sunday, Nov. 29 at noon CT inside the Eagles' Convocation Center.

WITH A WIN, UIC WOULD:

• Win their first game of the season
• Improve to 5-10 all-time against Eastern Michigan
• Win its first road game of the year
• Improve to 1-1 on the season

LAST TIME OUT

• UIC made its 2020-21 season debut on Wednesday (11/25) on the road at Eastern Illinois, taking an 82-71 loss.
• The Flames finished with four freshmen in double figures led by a 19-point effort by Jaida McCloud. Kristian Young (12 pts), Keona Schenck (10 pts) and Lindsey Young (10 pts) also turned in double-digit efforts in their collegiate debuts.
• The Flames held a slight advantage in shooting, making 42.2 percent (27-of-64) of their shots overall compared to the Panthers' 41.5 percent (27-of-65). UIC also finished on top beyond the arc, sinking 37.5 percent (6-of-16) of their long balls while the Panthers put in 32.1 percent (9-of-28).
• Tiana Jackson and Jada Nneji were both on the cusp of double figures, bringing in nine points apiece. Nneji was also in double-double territory, leading the Flames with nine rebounds.

APPROACHING A MILESTONE

• Senior Jada Nneji is approaching the all-time career blocks record, currently standing in third with 146 career blocks.
• After collecting a pair of blocks in Wednesday's opener at Eastern Illinois (11/25), Nneji is just three blocks away from the number two spot, currently held by Sharon Carroll (1977-80).
• Nneji is just 18 blocks shy of the all-time record of 164, currently owned by Cassie Johnson (2006-10).
• Nneji led both the Flames and the Horizon League in blocks in 2019-20, averaging 2.1 blocks per game to rank 32nd in the nation.
• Nneji's 58 blocks in 2019-20 were fourth-most in single-season history. She also owns the second-highest single season block total (70), which she set as a sophomore in 2018-19.
• The Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada native took home Horizon League All-Defensive Team honors last season for the second-straight year.
• The senior blocked two or more on 15 occasions and four or more five occasions in 2019-20.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES

• Eastern Michigan made its season debut on Wednesday, Nov. 25 with a 65-52 win over Southern Illinois.
• Redshirt senior Areanna Combs led the way for the Eagles with 24 points behind 50 percent (11-of-22) shooting.
• Junior Jenna Annecchiarico also turned in an impressive performance for Eastern Michigan with 16 points.
• Ce'Nara Skanes and Natalia Pineda paced the Eagles on the boards with nine rebounds apiece.
• Eastern Michigan owns a 10-4 all-time advantage over the Flames after taking a 68-59 win last season when the two teams met in Chicago (Dec.18, 2019).