CHICAGO (Jan. 18, 2025) – Fresh off a hard-fought Missouri Valley Conference win over Bradley on Friday night, UIC (5-10, 2-4 MVC) will look to continue building momentum when it plays host to Illinois State at 2 p.m. (CT) Sunday in the second of a three-game conference homestand at Credit Union 1 Arena. ESPN+ will broadcast the game live, while fans can hear the matchup free of charge on the Flames Network at UICFlames.com.
 
Sunday's matinee will also be Alumni Day, as the Flames welcome home several of their prominent former players and staff members who will be recognized during a special halftime ceremony.

Fans attending are encouraged to purchase their tickets online through Ticketmaster 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. Doors open an hour before first tip.
 
UIC FLAMES (5-10, 2-4 MVC) vs. ILLINOIS STATE REDBIRDS (10-7, 4-2 MVC)
When: Sunday, Jan. 19
Where: Credit Union 1 Arena
Time: 2 p.m. (CT)
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Stream: ESPN+
Radio: Flames Network
Live Stats: UICFlames.com
 
SCOUTING ILLINOIS STATE

• UIC and Illinois State will square off for the 26th time in their series on Sunday afternoon. The Redbirds hold a 21-4 edge over the Flames, although three of UIC's four wins in the series have come at Credit Union 1 Arena, including last year's 86-79 overtime victory. Both meetings last year (and four of the past six in the series) have been decided by single digits — Illinois State won the return game last year, 64-61 in Normal.
• In last season's contest in Chicago, UIC captured its first overtime win in conference play since 2013, led by 18 points from current graduate student forward Jaida McCloud, 14 points from current senior guard/forward Makiyah Williams and a double-double (11 points/13 rebounds) from current graduate student forward Keimari Rimmer. The Flames led or were tied for the final 37 minutes (including the entire overtime period) en route to their first win over the Redbirds since joining the MVC in 2022-23.
• In the rematch in Normal, UIC once again played from the lead for virtually the entire game before Illinois State grabbed its first lead with 16 seconds left and hung on for the three-point win. Williams led the Flames with 13 points, while McCloud added 11 points and eight rebounds.
• Illinois State comes into Sunday's game having won four of its last five, including a 79-65 victory at Valparaiso on Friday night. Sophomore guard Shannon Dowell had a game-high 22 points and classmate Nevaeh Thomas (a transfer from Evansville) added her fourth double-double in six games with 16 points and a season-high 12 rebounds for the Redbirds, who led by as many as 19 points in the second half on the way to the Valley win.
• Dowell is one of four Illinois State players scoring in double figures this year at a team-best 16.5 points per game, while Thomas adds 13.3 points and a team-high 7.9 rebounds per outing.  

LAST GAME RECAP – BRADLEY

• In a defensive slugfest, UIC delivered the final blow, closing the game on a 13-4 run to take a 52-49 win over Bradley on Friday night at Credit Union 1 Arena. 
• McCloud led the Flames with a game-high (and season-best) 19 points, including eight in the game-ending run. It was her two foul shots with 1:26 left that put UIC in front for good and she added a layup with 57 seconds to go, stretching the margin to three. Rimmer then sank a pair of clutch free throws with 2.8 seconds left and UIC successfully defended a potential game-tying three-point attempt to secure the win.
• It was McCloud's fifth double-figure scoring game this season and first since she scored 13 points in a Dec. 22 home victory over Ohio University.
• UIC's defense played a key role in the win, forcing 19 Bradley turnovers (third-most by an opponent this year) and holding the Braves to just two second-quarter points, the fewest the Flames have allowed in any period this season. 

DIGITAL YEARBOOK AVAILABLE
 
Fans that are interested to learn more about our 2024-25 UIC's men and women basketball teams are encouraged to view our digital yearbook, available now on our website.
 
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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).