CHICAGO (June 3, 2024) – The UIC women's basketball team will play host to 2023 NCAA national champion LSU on Dec. 19, 2024, at Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago, UIC head coach
Ashleen Bracey announced Monday. The tip-off time and potential television coverage will be finalized at a later date.
"I am thrilled to host a national championship program at our facility," said Bracey. "Kim Mulkey and the Tigers are a national powerhouse, bringing lots of excitement to Credit Union 1 Arena. With women's basketball on the rise, we hope to see a sellout crowd welcoming Aneesah Morrow back home as we compete against one of the nation's premier teams."
With a $25 per seat deposit, fans can reserve their 2024-25 UIC women's basketball season ticket package, which includes the Flames' matchup against LSU. Deposits can be made through
Ticketmaster, by contacting the UIC Athletics Ticket Office at 312-413-UIC1 (8421), or by emailing
Athleticsticketing@uic.edu.
LSU, which advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight last season, will be the first Southeastern Conference opponent that UIC will host at Credit Union 1 Arena since Dec. 1, 2002, when the Flames played Ole Miss in the finals of the Home Run Inn UIC Thanksgiving Tournament (the Rebels pulled out a narrow 65-64 decision). UIC and LSU will be meeting for the second time, having previously played on Dec. 18, 2007, at the Caribbean Challenge in Cancun, Mexico.
UIC is a program on the rise following two successful seasons with Bracey at the helm. Last year, the Flames went 18-16, earning the program's second consecutive postseason tournament berth (fourth in school history) and its first WNIT appearance since 2007. UIC has also posted back-to-back winning seasons under Bracey (19-17 in 2022-23 with a trip to the Women's Basketball Invitational), a feat the Flames hadn't accomplished in a decade (2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons). In two seasons under Bracey's leadership, UIC has already won more games (37) than it did in the seven seasons prior to her arrival and has finished in the top seven in the Missouri Valley Conference during both seasons it has been a member.
Next season, the Flames are expected to return nearly their entire roster, including their starting five and many key reserves. Leading the way will be a pair of all-MVC selections in senior guard
Makiyah Williams (Chicago, Ill./Trinity/Marquette) and graduate student forward
Keimari Rimmer (Chicago, Ill./Proviso East/DePaul). Joining the returnees will be three transfers in
Jalysa Stokes (Joliet, Ill./Joliet Central/UMSL),
Julia Coleman (St. Louis, Mo./Westminster Christian Academy/Texas State) and
Arin Freeman (Little Rock, Ark./North Little Rock/Coastal Carolina), all who have impressive resumes. The Flames also added an incoming freshman,
Chantrel "Tutu" Clayton (St. Louis, Mo./Cardinal Ritter/Vashon), who was the Missouri Class 4 Player of the Year last season.
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Fans are strongly encouraged to support NIL opportunities for UIC scholar-athletes through contributions to
The Chicago Collective.
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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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