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Oct. 24, 2000

Chicago, Ill. - With the 2000-01 UIC women's basketball team returning all five starters to the floor that finished last season by winning seven of its last eight games, expectations around campus have been that this Flames' squad could be its best ever.

Those expectations were backed up today by MCC coaches, sports information directors and media as UIC was slotted second - its highest ever preseason ranking - in the conference poll released earlier this afternoon. Flames' senior Kimberly Henry, the 2000 MCC Newcomer of the Year, also earned some early recognition, being named to the preseason All-MCC First Team.

Defending champion UW-Green Bay, who finished 21-9 overall and 12-2 in the MCC last year, was selected as the favorite to win its fourth MCC crown as they received 19 of the 21 first-place votes, totaling 160 points. UIC, which tallied a 14-5 mark last year while placing fourth in the league with an 8-6 record, received the other two top votes and finished with 137 points. UW-Milwaukee (124) was a close third to UIC in the poll, followed by Detroit (106), Cleveland State (83), Butler (59), Wright State (45) and Loyola (42).

Cleveland State senior forward Mahogany Green was selected as the 2000-01 MCC Preseason Player of the Year while also earning a spot on the preseason All-MCC First Team. She is the league's top returning scorer, averaging 17.4 ppg last season.

Joining Green on the All-MCC First Team is UIC senior Kimberly Henry. Henry, a native of Opelousas, La., led the Flames in scoring last year (13.6 ppg) while finishing third in the MCC in the category. Also earning spots on the first team were Trisha Ebel and Amanda Leonhard, both from UW-Green Bay, as well as Molly Peterman from Detroit.

Two more Phoenix - Melanie Tilque and Mandy Stowe - earned spots on the preseason All-MCC Second Team, giving UWGB four honorees, the most of any team. Lauren Sirus of Loyola, Reggen Stewart of Wright State and UW-Milwaukee's Holly Tamm joined them on the squad.

The Flames kick off the 2000-01 season at home on Saturday, November 18, as they welcome Southern Illinois to the UIC Pavilion at 3:00 p.m.

2000-01 MCC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL

Team                        Overall/MCC        Points

1. UW-Green Bay             21-9/12-2           160 (19)

2. UIC                      14-15/8-6           137 (2)

3. UW-Milwaukee             16-12/10-4          124

4. Detroit                  18-9/9-5            106

5. Cleveland State          15-15/5-9           83

6. Butler                   10-16/6-8           59

7. Wright State             8-20/5-9            45

8. Loyola                   3-23/1-13           42

Mahogany Green - Cleveland State

2000-01 PRESEASON ALL-MCC FIRST TEAM

Kimberly Henry - UIC

Trisha Ebel - UW-Green Bay

Mahogany Green - Cleveland State

Amanda Leonhard - UW-Green Bay

Molly Peterman - Detroit

2000-01 PRESEASON ALL-MCC SECOND TEAM

Lauren Sirus - Loyola

Reggen Stewart - Wright State

Mandy Stowe - UW-Green Bay

Holly Tamm - UW-Milwaukee

Melanie Tilque - UW-Green Bay

UIC Flames Women's Basketball

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