DES MOINES, IOWA—The UIC women's basketball team (11-6, 3-3 MVC) aims to continue momentum in the Missouri Valley Conference, as the Flames head on the road to face Drake (9-5, 4-2 MVC) Thursday evening at the Knapp Center.
This match-up will be the seventh time these programs have squared off in the hardwood, and the first time in over a decade. The Bulldogs lead the series, 5-1. The last time the Flames were victorious was back on Nov. 12, 2011, 61-48.
The Flames completed their two-week homestand this past weekend with a 3-1 record with wins over Evansville, Valparaiso, and Southern Illinois.
Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and is available to stream on ESPN+
FILER'S FIREPOWER
- The Missouri Valley Conference named Josie Filer its Newcomer of the Week for the second time this season.
- The forward averaged 21.5 points per game, and eight rebounds per game this past week.
- Filer landed a buzzer-beating three pointer in the 51-50 win over Valparaiso.
- Filer scored 19 of her 22 points in the second half in their win against Southern Illinois, 65-62.
A DEFENSIVE MINDSET
- The Flames regained the lead in scoring defense in the Missouri Valley Conference. They are holding opponents to 57.8 points per game.
- Three of the Flames wins (IUPUI, Milwaukee and Southern Illinois) have come down to defensive stops in the final possession of the game.
- Kristian Young is ranked sixth in the MVC in steals, averaging 1.6 per game.
- Ky Dempsey-Toney won't shy away from swatting a defender. She is currently ranked 5th in the MVC in total blocks (23) and per game (1.4).
BULLDOGS PREPARED FOR BATTLE
- Drake is the seventh best rebounding team nationally, grabbing 45.93 rebounds a game.
- Maggie Blair has been one of the top scorers in the Missouri Valley Conference. She is a disciplined shooter, ranked fifth in the nation at a 64.4% field goal percentage and first in the MVC. She currently averages 15.8 points a game.
- Drake also has the strongest scoring offense in the MVC, averaging 82.9 PPG.
- The Bulldogs lead many of the team stats categories in the Valley. They are first in assists per game (21.5) and blocks per game (5.9).
