CHICAGO – UIC redshirt sophomore forward Julia Coleman (St. Louis, Mo./Westminster Christian Academy/Texas State) has been selected as the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Newcomer of the Week, the conference announced Monday. This is Coleman's first weekly award since coming to UIC, and the third by a Flames player this season (Jessica Carrothers has twice been named MVC Newcomer of the Week).

Coleman played a critical role in UIC's 1-1 week, averaging 21.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game with a .516 field-goal percentage as the Flames defeated crosstown rival DePaul for the first time in 44 years and battled Austin Peay to the wire before falling late on Saturday.  Coleman scored a career-high 29 points (second-most by a Valley player this season) and grabbed eight rebounds in the Dec. 17 win over the Blue Demons, connecting on 11-of-20 shots from the floor and pairing with Carrothers (24 points) to give UIC its first 20-point scoring duo in a game since 2017. Coleman then turned in a balanced line against Austin Peay with 13 points, five rebounds and a season-high five assists.

For the season, Coleman ranks ninth in the MVC in scoring (15.3 ppg.) and 10th in rebounding (6.8 rpg.), as well as third in field-goal percentage (.510), fourth in steals (1.9 spg.) and sixth in blocked shots (1.2 bpg.).
 
"We are so proud of Julia's success this season," UIC head coach Ashleen Bracey said. "She continues to work hard, be open to coaching, and buy into the culture of our program. Julia's best basketball is ahead of her, and the Valley season is going to be a great opportunity for her to continue to compete and make a strong impact." 

UIC (6-6, 1-0 MVC) is in the midst of a season-long nine-day break before returning to MVC play with three home games at Credit Union 1 Arena during the week after the Christmas holiday - Dec. 29 vs. Drake (noon CT), Dec. 31 vs. UNI (noon CT) and Jan. 4 vs. Indiana State (2 p.m. CT). The Dec. 29 game is also the last of three doubleheaders with the UIC men's basketball team (which will host Illinois Tech at 3 p.m. CT), with fans holding a ticket for the women's game able to stay free of charge for the men's game. It will also be the UIC Flames Day at the Beach promotion, with fans encouraged to come in their finest summer wear, and UIC Athletics beach balls will be given out to early-arriving fans. 

All of next week's UIC basketball games (women's and men's) are part of the special UIC Hoops for the Holiday promotion in which all tickets purchased either online via Ticketmaster (using the promo code "HOLIDAY") or at the arena box office are $5 each for general admission seating (women) or $10 each for lower-level sideline/baseline seats (men). All Flames' home games are also televised live on ESPN+, and broadcast around the world free of charge on the Flames Network at UICFlames.com.

UIC basketball season and single-game tickets are also on sale through Ticketmaster (Men's Basketball or Women's Basketball), UICFlames.com/Tickets or by contacting the UIC Athletics Ticket Office at (312) 413-UIC1 (8421) or athleticsticketing@uic.edu. UIC students are admitted free for all Flames' home games.
 
In addition, the US Solar Courtside Club is open for each game at Credit Union 1 Arena, with Club passes available for purchase through the UIC Athletics Ticket Office or at the Courtside Club entrance on game nights. Located just steps away from the action on the event level at Credit Union 1 Arena, the US Solar Courtside Club provides a premium experience for all UIC basketball fans, including enhanced food and beverage options. The Club also offers luxury seating and flat-screen televisions, and fans will have earlier access to the arena through a dedicated separate gate entrance, allowing them to get a quicker start on supporting their Flames each and every night.
 
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).