Sept. 24, 2008

2008-09 UIC Women's Basketball Schedule

Chicago, Ill. - Six straight home games to open the season, a showdown against crosstown powerhouse DePaul at the UIC Pavilion and a trip to the Maggie Dixon Surf N Slam Classic in San Diego highlight the 2008-09 UIC women's basketball schedule that was unveiled by head coach Lisa Ryckbosch on Wednesday, Sept. 24.

"We are looking to get off to a great start, and the fact that we play a lot of home games is favorable because we've had a good amount of success at the Pavilion," said Ryckbosch.

A pair of home exhibition contests versus Lewis and St. Xavier precede UIC's season opener against Bradley on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Pavilion.

The Flames' homestand continues against Canisius on Nov. 25, followed by a tilt against SIU-Edwardsville on Nov. 30 to conclude the month of November.

UIC will begin December by hosting Florida Atlantic on Dec. 3, Western Michigan on Dec. 6, and Cal Poly on Dec. 18 to conclude the Flames' longest home stretch of the season.

After a road contest at Northern Illinois on Dec. 20, UIC returns home to take on perennial power DePaul in a Monday night affair at the Pavilion on Dec. 22 at 7 p.m.

"Our goal for the non-league schedule is to incrementally take steps towards being ready to compete against solid opponents and ultimately compete for a championship in the Horizon League," said Ryckbosch.

The Flames then head west to participate in the Maggie Dixon Surf N Slam Classic hosted by the University of San Diego from Dec. 28-30 to wrap up the calendar year. UIC opens tournament play against host San Diego in the opening round on Dec. 28, followed by a matchup against Long Island or New Mexico State on the final day of competition.

Having the opportunity to play in the tournament that honors late Army head coach and former San Diego player Maggie Dixon is especially important to Ryckbosch.

"She was a colleague of mine and a dear friend," said Ryckbosch, who was on Doug Bruno's staff with Dixon at DePaul from 2000-2002. "It is a great honor for our team to carry on her legacy by playing in the tournament, and we plan on going to San Diego to play hard."

The Flames kick off Horizon League action at home on Jan. 3 against Wright State. Key league tilts at home include Milwaukee on Jan. 22, perennial power Green Bay on Jan. 24, and city rival Loyola on Feb. 7.

UIC returns all five starters from last year's team, including 2007-08 All-Horizon League Second Team selection Jessie Miller. A junior from Burnsville, Minn., Miller averaged a team-best 14.0 points and 3.3 assists per game last season.