CHICAGO (Oct. 10, 2023) – The UIC women's basketball team has unveiled its 20-game Missouri Valley Conference schedule for the 2023-24 season, the conference office announced Tuesday.
 
The MVC scheduling format remains the same for the Flames, who will play an even split of 10 home and 10 road games during their second season in the conference. UIC will face nine of the other 11 Valley schools twice (home and away), with single matchups against Belmont (away for the conference opener on Dec. 30) and Murray State (home on Feb. 22).
 
"We are very excited for our second year in the MVC," noted head coach Ashleen Bracey. "We have a good mix of returning talent and have added some much-needed depth to our roster. Our staff and players are encouraged about the foundation we have in place, and now we will strive to take the next step in building a championship-caliber program.
 
Season tickets for UIC women's basketball are now on sale through the UIC Athletics Ticket Office by calling (312) 413-8UIC (8421) or going online to UICFlames.com/Tickets.
 
Last month, the Flames released their non-conference schedule, which tips off Oct. 30 with a 7 p.m. (CT) exhibition game against Wisconsin-Parkside at Credit Union 1 Arena. UIC will then start the regular season with three consecutive road games (Nov. 6 at Loyola; Nov. 9 at Northwestern; Nov. 12 at Milwaukee) before its home opener at 7 p.m. on Nov. 17 against Southeast Missouri State.
 
The Dec. 30 matchup at Belmont begins a 10-week stretch of conference play for the Flames, who will play their first three MVC games on the road, as well as five out of six conference contests away from home during the latter half of February. Conversely, UIC will have four MVC home games in a nine-day span (Jan. 12-21) as well as three consecutive conference home games during the week of Feb. 4-11.
 
After closing the regular season at home against Missouri State (March 7) and Southern Illinois (March 9), the Flames will turn their focus to the 38th MVC Tournament (aka "Hoops in the Heartland") that will be played March 14-17, 2024, at Vibrant Arena in Moline, Ill.
 
Television coverage for the 2023-24 UIC women's basketball schedule will be announced at a later date.
 
UIC is coming off a memorable 2022-23 season that saw the Flames post 19 wins and earn a berth in the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI), the third postseason appearance in program history. It marked the greatest win improvement in MVC history and the second-largest turnaround in the nation last year.
 
UIC is looking to carry that momentum into this season, with nine players returning, led by starting senior guards Jaida McCloud (12.2 ppg., 6.2 rpg.) and Kristian Young (6.2 ppg., 5.0 rpg.). The Flames will also have eight newcomers this year, including Chicago natives Krystyna Ellew, Keimari Rimmer and Makiyah Williams, all of whom transferred into the program during the offseason.
 
For more information, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UIC_WBB and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_wbb and @uicflames).
 
2023-24 UIC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE (as of Oct. 10)
Oct. 30            WISCONSIN-PARKSIDE (exhibition)           7 p.m.
Nov. 6             at Loyola                                                         6 p.m.
Nov. 9             at Northwestern                                              TBD
Nov. 12           at Milwaukee                                                  2 p.m.
Nov. 17           SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE               7 p.m.
Nov. 19           IUPUI                                                              1 p.m.
Nov. 26           at Saint Louis                                                  TBD
Dec. 1              at Omaha                                                        7 p.m.
Dec. 13            at Green Bay                                                   7 p.m.
Dec. 15            CHICAGO STATE                                         7 p.m.
 
West Palm Beach Classic (West Palm Beach, Fla.)
Dec. 20            vs. UTEP                                                         10 a.m.
Dec. 21            vs. Arkansas                                                   10 a.m.
 
Dec. 30            at Belmont*                                                    TBD
Jan. 4               at Southern Illinois*                                       TBD
Jan. 6               at Missouri State*                                           TBD
Jan. 12             NORTHERN IOWA*                                     7 p.m.
Jan. 14             DRAKE*                                                         1 p.m.
Jan. 19             BRADLEY*                                                    7 p.m.
Jan. 21             ILLINOIS STATE*                                        1 p.m.
Jan. 26             at Evansville*                                                 TBD
Jan. 28             at Indiana State*                                             TBD
Feb. 4              VALPARAISO*                                             1 p.m.
Feb. 9              EVANSVILLE*                                              7 p.m.
Feb. 11            INDIANA STATE*                                        Noon
Feb. 15            at Illinois State*                                              TBD
Feb. 17            at Bradley*                                                     TBD
Feb. 22            MURRAY STATE*                                       7 p.m.
Feb. 25            at Valparaiso*                                                TBD
Feb. 29            at Drake*                                                        TBD
March 2           at Northern Iowa*                                           TBD
March 7           MISSOURI STATE*                                      7 p.m.
March 9           SOUTHERN ILLINOIS*                               1 p.m.
 
March 14-17   MVC Tournament                                          TBD
                        (at Moline, Ill.)
 
* - Missouri Valley Conference game
Home games in ALL CAPS
All times Central except where noted; remaining times and TV coverage to be determined
For more information, visit UICFlames.com