NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 29, 2023) – The UIC women's basketball team (7-4) is set to tip off its Missouri Valley Conference schedule at 4 p.m. (CT) Saturday, facing defending MVC co-champion Belmont (7-4) at the Curb Event Center in Nashville. It's the first of three consecutive road games for the Flames to begin conference play, with Saturday's contest to be streamed live on ESPN+ and live stats available at UICFlames.com.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Saturday, Dec. 30 | 4 p.m. CT
Curb Event Center | Nashville, Tenn.
ESPN+
Live Stats
 

Made it to Nashville ????#FireUpFlames pic.twitter.com/K56ZnTshlq

— UIC W. Basketball ???? (@UIC_WBB) December 29, 2023

LAST TIME OUT
UIC last played Dec. 20-21 at the West Palm Beach (Fla.) Classic, where they finished 1-1. The Flames opened the tournament with an 81-65 victory over UTEP, then followed with a 66-58 loss to Arkansas the following day.
 
In the win over the Miners, senior forward Danyel Middleton (Chicago, Ill./Bolingbrook/Marquette) led UIC with 16 points, five rebounds and four assists, while graduate student guard Dais'Ja Trotter (Louisville, Ky./Seneca/Cincinnati) netted 13 points and grabbed six rebounds. Junior forward Makiyah Williams (Chicago, Ill./Trinity/Marquette) also scored 13 points and senior center Tara Green (West Helena, Ark./Central High School/New Orleans) contributed 12 points off the bench.
 
Against the Razorbacks, the Flames were led by Williams, who scored 15 points, and graduate student guard Keimari Rimmer (Chicago, Ill./Proviso East/DePaul), who collected 12 points and eight rebounds.
 
After 11 non-conference games, Williams is the team's leading scorer (13.0 ppg), while Trotter is right on her heels with 12.9 points per game. Senior forward Jaida McCloud (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods) reigns as the Flames' top rebounder, grabbing 6.5 per game.
 

Can't wait to get back on the court tomorrow ???????#FireUpFlames pic.twitter.com/6hVRvDj809

— UIC W. Basketball ???? (@UIC_WBB) December 29, 2023

 FLAMES ON FIRE

• The Flames' bench has outscored its opponent's reserves in all 11 games this season, ranking 15^th in the country and second in the MVC at 30.5 bench points per game.
• Both of UIC points guards, senior Kristian Young (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) and junior Sandra Frau-Garcia (Pego, Spain/Casper College), are among the top five in The Valley in assists and assist/turnover ratio. Frau-Garcia is second in assists (4.9 apg.) and fifth in assist/turnover ratio (1.80), while Young is second in assist/turnover ratio (2.42) and fifth in assists (4.2 apg.).
• UIC's defense has proven to be just as effective as its offense, as the Flames are first in the MVC with 20.27 turnovers forced per game.
• Rimmer is second in the MVC with 23 steals and fourth with 2.09 steals per game this season.
• McCloud continues to climb up UIC's career scoring charts, sitting at 1,159 points (14^th in program history).
• Head coach Ashleen Bracey now owns a 15-7 record against non-conference opponents in her two years with the Flames.

SCOUTING BELMONT
Belmont concluded its non-conference campaign with a 7-4 record, experiencing early setbacks against Power Five opponents Missouri (72-61), Mississippi State (63-62) and Stanford (74-55). Despite a challenging start, the Bruins rebounded with five consecutive victories before an 84-55 loss at another high-major opponent, No. 15 Ohio State on Dec. 22.
 
Heading into their first conference game, junior forward Tessa Miller leads the Bruins in scoring (14.3 ppg.), while Kendal Cheesman and Kilyn McGuff share the lead in rebounding (6.7 rpg.). Miller has scored in double figures in all but one game this season and has recorded at least three assists in six consecutive outings.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's game will mark the third meeting between UIC and Belmont. The two schools crossed paths for the first time last season when both joined the MVC. The Bruins won both matchups last season, including a competitive 72-59 decision on New Year's Day 2023 in Nashville.
 
Tickets for all UIC basketball games can be purchased online through Ticketmaster and UICFlames.com/Tickets, as well as through the UIC Athletics Ticket Office (312-413-UIC1) or by visiting the Credit Union 1 Arena box office on game night. Fans can also enhance their gameday experience by purchasing a Courtside Club pass for selected UIC women's basketball home games (Jan. 14 vs. Drake; Jan. 21 vs. Illinois State; Feb. 4 vs. Valparaiso) through the UIC Athletics Ticket Office or on game day at Credit Union 1 Arena.
 
For more information on UIC women's basketball, 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).