Women’s basketball team eyes win No. 7
After winning six straight games, the women’s basketball team (6-2) looks to match the best nine-game start in program history tonight when the Flames play at Western Michigan (3-5). Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at University Arena.
A win would match the 2001-02 squad for the best nine-game start (7-2) in the Division I era.
The Flames’ 6-2 record is the best start in 12 seasons. It’s also the Flames’ first six-game win streak since 2007.
UIC won its sixth consecutive game Saturday with a 62-57 victory over Butler (3-5) at the Hinkle Fieldhouse. Katie Hannemann (16 points and eight rebounds) and Ruvanna Campbell (14 points and 10 rebounds) neutralized Bulldog center Liz Stratman while Rachel Story (17 points) had a strong second half for the Flames.
UIC shot 52 percent from the floor, including 60 percent (14-of-23) in the second half. UIC out-rebounded Butler, 38-34, and out-scored the Bulldogs, 40-24, in the paint.
Western Michigan (3-5) is in its second season under head coach Shane Clipfell and returns 11 players from last year’s roster. Western Michigan was 11-20 last season and earned the No. 9 seed of the Mid-American Conference Tournament. The Broncos defeated Eastern Michigan in the first round to advance to the second round for the first time since 2008.
The Broncos are receiving strong play from juniors Marquisha Harris (10.6 points per game, 7.4 rebounds per game), Michelle O’Brien (9.5 points per game, 9.9 rebounds per game), Jazmine Windham (10.3 points per game) and A.J. Johnson (9.4 points per game). Sophomore forward Miracle Woods averaged 21.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.0 blocks over the first three games of the season but she has sat out the last five contests with an injury.
The strong play of Campbell, Hannemann, Emily Kobel and Megan Wallace this season has allowed UIC to dominate opponents inside the paint. UIC ranks first in the Horizon League in rebounding margin (+8.6), offensive rebounds (16.5 per game) and blocked shots (3.1 per game). The Flames are grabbing nearly half of their own misses with a league-leading offensive rebound percentage of .420.
