CHICAGO-The UIC women's basketball team (14-11, 5-9 MVC) came out victorious against Drake (14-8, 9-5 MVC) Sunday afternoon at Credit Union 1 Arena, 64-52 on the program's Play4Kay game. Celebrating women who have been affected by cancer and their loved ones, the game honored these individuals during pregame and throughout the game. 

The Flames were led offensively by Jaida McCloud, who scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to secure her first double-double of the season. Tiana Jackson and Danyel Middleton each netted nine points.

COACHES COMMENT
"Our kids battled," Flames head coach Ashleen Bracey said. "We went down 10 and they didn't even bat an eye. They battled and I am just super proud of them."

FIRST HALF

• The Flames got on the board first after Sara Zabrecky shot a three-pointer. The Bulldogs quickly responded by going on an 8-0 run midway through the first.
• The Flames finished the first quarter trailing, 10-6. They shot 16% from the field.  
• After a quiet first quarter, UIC double the score in the first few minutes of the second quarter behind shots from Tiana Jackson, Jaida McCloud, and Danyel Middleton.
• UIC regained the lead since opening possession after Jackson landed a three-point play going into a timeout. The Flames finished the quarter shooting 40% from the field and outscoring the Bulldogs, 18-16 in the quarter.
• Drake regained the lead in the closing seconds of the half, 26-24.

SECOND HALF

• Drake began the second half extending their lead, going on a 9-3 run to begin the third quarter.
• Flames responded by outscoring the Bulldogs 16-4 in the third to take a four-point lead heading into the last ten minutes of the game.
• McCloud stepped up in the second half for the Flames, scoring 14 of her 19 points and grabbing eight more rebounds to secure her first double-double of the season.
• The Flames finished the game with their best quarter, scoring 21 points and shooting 46% from the field.
• UIC secured the win by going six-for-eight from the charity stripe and held Drake to just three points in the last five minutes of the game.

CONFERENCE STANDINGS

• In this win against Drake, the Flames remain tied for sixth place in the Missouri Valley Conference.
• UIC and Southern Illinois (9-14, 6-8 MVC) hold sixth place after the Salukis defeated Bradley on the road, 83-59.

JOSIE AND JAIDA'S JOURNEY TO 1,000

• Josie Filer scored seven points in the victory and is now 58 points away from 1,000 points in her collegiate career.
• Filer remains the leading scorer for UIC, averaging 12.2 points per game.
• Jaida McCloud has scored in double figures now for six consecutive games and is now 77 points away from 1,000 career points.

UIC returns to the road next week when they take on Evansville (10-13, 5-9 MVC) next Friday. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and will be available to stream on ESPN+