With additional reporting by Colin Salao

UIC will open the 2021-22 season, the fourth under head coach Tasha Pointer, Wednesday night at Northwestern.

Pointer has been heralding the upcoming season as a breakthrough one for the Flames, noting that for the first time, all of the players on the roster were recruited by her staff.  From the leadership of third-year starter Tiana Jackson, to the development of sophomores Keona Schenk, Kristian Young, Jaida McCloud, and Lindsey Rogers – who combined for 60 starts last year – to the arrival of a diverse, talented group of newcomers, the reasons for optimism are bountiful.

When it comes to leadership on and off the court, one need look no further than Jackson.  She has been second on the team in assists each of her first two seasons, and serves as UIC's Student-Athlete Advisory Council president and liaison to the Horizon League's OneHL group.  "I think that Tiana is phenomenal," said Pointer. "She could score the ball, she can rebound, she can facilitate.  She allows us to play the brand of defense that we would like to play.  She is really becoming the leader that we envisioned when we first recruited her."

McCloud, a Horizon League All-Freshman selection last season, leads the group of sophomores who were the team's top four leaders in scoring during the 2020-21 campaign.  Her 17 points were just shy of classmate Young's game-high 19 in the Flames' exhibition win over Benedictine.  A roster that was in the top-10 youngest in the nation last year experienced its share of growing pains, but is poised to transfer those lessons into improved results starting Wednesday.

Two newcomers were in the starting lineup against Benedictine.  Justice Gee, a graduate transfer from East Carolina, had 11 points and seven rebounds.  Bailey Lutes, a freshman, was third on the team with 29 minutes and grabbed two offensive rebounds.  Freshman Leah Yarbrough snagged three rebounds in eight minutes.

A point of emphasis since Pointer arrived in Chicago has been team defense.  The Flames led the Horizon League in steals last year, with just under 10 per game.  "We definitely try to apply man-to-man pressure," Pointer said of her team's defense. "We will have one or two, maybe three people coming at you in waves."  UIC forced 32 turnovers against Benedictine, and scored 32 points off of them.

Northwestern is sure to pose a challenge out of the gate.  The Wildcats advanced to the second round of last year's NCAA tournament, and have won the last four meetings.  UIC is looking for its second season-opening win under Pointer, and its first win over a Power 5 program since beating Wisconsin in 2013.

Wednesday's game starts at 7 p.m. and can be seen on BTN+.