March 7, 2009

2009 Speedway Horizon League Tournament Bracket in PDF Format

Chicago, Ill. - The UIC women's basketball team will be the No. 6 seed in the 2009 Speedway Horizon League Championship with the Flames opening play on Wednesday, March 11 at third-seeded Cleveland State at 6 p.m. CDT.

The Flames (14-15, 8-10) are in search of their first-ever Horizon League Tournament title, while the Vikings (18-12, 12-6) are the defending tournament champions, winning last year's event as the No. 4 seed.

Cleveland State swept the regular season series from UIC, topping the Flames, 68-60, on Jan. 31 at the Wolstein Center and then earning an 83-73 victory at the Flames Athletic Center on Feb. 26.

The Flames have had the upper hand against the Vikings in postseason play, though, having won all three prior league tournament meetings. The teams last crossed paths in the tournament back in 2007 with UIC rolling past Cleveland State, 69-50, in a quarterfinal game at the Pavilion.

The winner of Wednesday's game moves on to the Kress Center in Green Bay, Wis., as Green Bay, which secured its 11th straight regular season crown, hosts the tournament semifinals and title game.

The Phoenix is the tournament's top seed and will meet the winner of the Monday night opening round game between #8 Detroit and #9 Loyola.

The other opening round game pits #10 Youngstown State at #7 Milwaukee with the winner of that contest traveling to meet #2 Butler on Wednesday night.

The final quarterfinal contest on Wednesday features #4 Valparaiso hosting #5 Wright State.