CHICAGO (Jan. 21, 2024) – For the fifth time in six games this season, the UIC women's basketball team (10-7, 3-3 MVC) protected its home court, outlasting Illinois State, 86-79 in overtime on Sunday afternoon at Credit Union 1 Arena. It was the Flames' second overtime win in three opportunities under second-year head coach
Ashleen Bracey and their first conference OT victory since 2013.
Senior forward
Jaida McCloud (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods) led the way for UIC with 18 points and nine rebounds. Graduate student guard
Keimari Rimmer (Chicago, Ill./Proviso East/DePaul) posted a double-double, scoring 11 points and adding 13 rebounds. Junior forward
Makiyah Williams (Chicago, Ill./Trinity/Marquette) pitched in 14 points, while senior guard
Kristian Young (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) added 11.
COMMENT FROM HEAD COACH ASHLEEN BRACEY
"I'm very proud of our group today. I feel like we really responded after last week's loss to Drake. We played with an incredible amount of resiliency and grit. It was a game of runs and we withstood it through the defensive end."
COMMENT FROM SENIOR FORWARD JAIDA MCCLOUD
"It feels great to be among the top scorers in UIC history, especially where I come from. I couldn't do it without my teammates because they find me and get me the ball. I'm happy to be on the right track."
FIRST QUARTER (22-20, UIC)
- UIC connected on its first three of four shot attempts to begin the quarter. One was from senior guard Danyel Middleton (Chicago, Ill./Bolingbrook/Marquette) and the other two from McCloud on back-to-back baskets in the paint to put UIC up 6-2.
- At 4:50, graduate student guard Dais'Ja Trotter (Louisville, Ky./Seneca/Cincinnati) soared in the air for an offensive rebound, going back up and drawing the "and-one". The score moved to 13-10 after she made her free throw.
- The Redbirds beat the shot clock with a basket at 2:52, but junior guard/forward Ky Dempsey-Toney (Franklin, N.J./Franklin) answered on the other end in the paint to put UIC back in the lead (16-14). Minutes later, she squared her shoulders and took a charge, giving UIC momentum on the defensive end.
- Rimmer drove the left side and banked in a shot in with 41 seconds remaining in the quarter, giving UIC the two-point lead (22-20) heading into the second period.
SECOND QUARTER (34-25, UIC)
- Junior guard Krystyna Ellew (Chicago, Ill./Taft/Wisconsin) opened up the scoring with a three at 9:36 to expand the lead to 25-20.
- After a two-minute scoring drought on for both teams, senior guard Sara Zabrecky (Munster, Ind./Munster/St. John's) drove to the lane and made a layup, bringing the score to 27-22.
- The Flames had the ball with 18 seconds to go in the second quarter. Waiting for the last shot, Young made her way past her defender to give UIC its biggest lead of the game (34-25).
- Rimmer controlled the paint, grabbing seven rebounds in the second quarter alone.
- UIC held ISU to a 1-of-13 shooting and five points in the quarter.
THIRD QUARTER (47-43, UIC)
- After four quick Redbird points to open the second half, McCloud picked up a loose ball and scored an easy two points at 8:12, to make the score 36-29.
- With 3:15 left, Trotter found McCloud posting up on the block. The veteran post scored and drew the foul, completing the "and-one" to bring the score to 42-37.
- After exchanging baskets with ISU, Williams scored four points in a minute, expanding the Flames' lead to five with 2:30 left in the third.
FOURTH QUARTER (63-63, TIED)
- One minute into the quarter, Williams made a strong move just feet away from the basket, maintaining UIC's lead (49-43).
- Middleton and Zabrecky each stepped up and took charges in the fourth period, which the team converted into offensive opportunities.
- The Flames came up with a big defensive stop at 5:19, followed by a foul-line jump shot from Middleton to bring the score to 55-50.
- Illinois State hit a three-pointer with 39.2 seconds remaining to make it a three-point game (58-55). Then, with 24 seconds on the clock, ISU drove in for an "and-one", shaving UIC's lead to one point.
- After being fouled to stop the clock, Williams sank both free throws with nine seconds, making it a three-point game (63-60). Illinois State was fouled on a three pointer with 5.2 seconds left. After making all three free-throws, the Flames had the ball for a last-second shot but couldn't connect.
OVERTIME (86-79, UIC)
- McCloud made a run for the Flames with a put-back "and-one" layup and then a three-pointer at 3:10 to expand UIC's lead (67-63).
- The Redbirds hit a three at 2:25, but Zabrecky answered the next possession with one of her own, putting the Flames up 74-68.
- Following a pause in play for an officials' review, Young made her way into the paint and around her defender for a bank shot (76-68).
- The Flames went 4-of-5 from the charity stripe the last minute of play to fend off the Redbirds in overtime.
- Young came up with a steal with seconds left to solidify UIC's first Valley win over ISU.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- Sunday's win marks the first over the Redbirds since Nov. 23, 2015. It's UIC's fourth series win against Illinois State.
- Following McCloud's 18-point performance, she is now 12th on UIC's all-time scoring list. She's also on pace to break into the top 10 for rebounding.
- It's UIC's first overtime win since Nov. 27, 2022 (75-71 vs. St. Thomas) and first overtime win in a conference game since Feb. 21-2013 (an 81-78 Horizon League victory over Wright State). The Flames are 2-1 in overtime play under Bracey.
UP NEXT
The Flames will hit the road for two conference games next week in the state of Indiana. The first stop will be Evansville on Friday for a 6 p.m. (CT) game with the Purple Aces before heading to Terre Haute, Ind., on Sunday (Jan. 28) for a noon (CT) contest with Indiana State. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+ with live stats at
UICFlames.com.
TICKETS AND MORE
Tickets for all UIC home 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 day.
The Courtside Club will return for one more home game this season — Feb. 4 against Valparaiso. Club members will receive a number of perks including early arena access, unlimited refreshments (including complimentary beer and wine) and a private lounge space with flat-screen televisions and theater-style furniture.
For more information or to purchase Courtside Club passes, contact the UIC Athletics Ticket office (312-413-8421;
athleticsticketing@uic.edu) or send a request through the Courtside Club page at
UICFlames.com. Passes may also be purchased on game days through the Credit Union 1 Arena box office or the Courtside Club entrance located on the event level.
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).
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