UIC Flames Basketball: 2022-23 Season

Men’s Season Preview

Women’s Season Preview

Men’s Schedule

Women’s Schedule

Luke Yaklich - Men’s Head Coach

Ashleen Bracey - Women’s Head Coach

Men’s Assistant Coaches and Support Staff

Women’s Assistant Coaches and Support Staff

Men’s Roster

Men’s Player Profiles

Women’s Roster

Women’s Player Profiles

MEN’S BASKETBALL SEASON PREVIEW

The UIC men’s basketball team is set to embark on its inaugural season as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. In his third season at the helm, head coach Luke Yaklich will look to balance returning talent, veteran transfers and talented freshmen as the program navigates a new era of UIC basketball.

Jace Carter and Filip Skobalj return for their sophomore seasons and anchor the returning core for the Flames. Carter, a native of Titusville, Florida, garnered conference All-Freshman Team honors a season ago after averaging 8.1 points per game while ranking second on the team with 5.4 rebounds per game. After missing time at the start of the year due to injury, the guard returned to be a factor in the UIC lineup, starting 17 of the final 18 games of the season.

Skobalj appeared in 29 games during his rookie campaign, making 22 starts. The 6-foot-7 forward out of Serbia averaged 6.2 points per game and 3.4 rebounds per contest, ranking fourth on the team with 43 made 3-pointers on the season. Skobalj collected his first collegiate double-double against Northern Kentucky with a season-high 15 points and a season-best 11 rebounds.

Griffin Yaklich, the son of head coach Luke Yaklich, and Jaden Brownell, who redshirted a season ago, also return to add depth to the UIC bench.

Complementing Carter and Skobalj on the court will be a pair of talented and veteran transfers in Tre Anderson and Toby Okani. Anderson, a graduate student, joins UIC after spending last year at Idaho and his first three seasons at San Francisco. While with the Vandals, Anderson ranked second on the team in scoring (14.4) and led the team in assists (3.5).

Okani joins the Flames as a junior after spending two seasons at Duquesne. During his time in Pittsburgh, Okani made 25 career starts and scored a season-high 13 points against Richmond last year. The 6-foot-8 forward also excels at the rim, ranking third on the team in rebounding as a freshman. UIC’s roster is capped off with five incoming freshmen in Jalen Jackson, Steven Clay, Christian Jones, Bessanty-Aime Saragba and Cameron Fens. Clay and Jones both enter as three-star recruits, with Clay ranked as the No. 6 prospect in Wisconsin, and Jones the No. 8 player in Illinois.

Saragba, a native of Marseille, France, joins the Flames after attending Trinity Collegiate School in South Carolina where he earned Defensive Player of the Year honors in addition to being named All-Region and All-State in three consecutive seasons. Fens, who hails from Dubuque, Iowa, averaged a double- double as a senior with 18.7 points and 11.3 rebounds per game and set the single-season rebounding record with 272.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SEASON PREVIEW

The UIC women’s basketball team ushers in a new era of Flames basketball in 2022-23 with a new head coach, a new team and a new conference.

Head coach Ashleen Bracey was announced as the 13th head coach in program history on March 28. No stranger to the Missouri Valley Conference, Bracey was a three-year starter at Illinois State, helping the Redbirds to three postseason appearances.

Junior Jaida McCloud returns to the lineup after earning All-League Second Team honors a year ago. One of two players on the team to start all 27 games last season, McCloud led the team in scoring and rebounding in 2021-22, averaging 16.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Kristian Young is back for her junior year after finishing second on the team with 9.9 points per game a season ago. Young lead the team in assists (96) and steals (59).

Senior Tiana Jackson provides a veteran presence among the returning Flames, having played 50 career games with 41 starts over the past three years. Jackson, who has averaged 7.1 points per game in her career, will look to bounce back after an injury limited the senior to just five contests in 2021-22.

Keona Schenck was the other Flame to start all 27 contests last season, averaging a team-leading 34.5 minutes per game. The junior scored 5.9 points per game while ranking third on the team with 47 steals.

Lindsey Rogers, Ky Dempsey-Toney, Leah

Yarbrough, Bailey Lutes and Kennady Schenck are all back and will look to provide depth to the UIC roster.

The Flames also have had an influx of talent with six new players, including four collegiate transfers.

Danyel Middleton returns home to Chicago after spending her first two seasons at Marquette. Josie Filer joins the Flames as a graduate student following a successful playing career at Omaha. Sara Zabrecky is the third upperclassmen to join Bracey’s inaugural recruiting class after a two-year stint at St. John’s. Additionally, Dylan Van Fleet enters her junior season after spending her first two years at Morton College.

UIC also welcomed a pair of freshmen in Nora Ahram from nearby Hoffman Estates and Marta Gomez by way of Madrid, Spain.

The team will embark on its inaugural season as members of the Missouri Valley Conference this season, becoming the 12th member of the historic league.

DATE OPPONENT

NOV 1

NOV 7

NOV 11

NOV 14

NOV 19

NOV 21

NOV 22

NOV 26

NOV 30 DEC 3 DEC 10 DEC 13 DEC 18 DEC 20 DEC 28 DEC 31

JAN 1

JAN 7

JAN 10

JAN 14

JAN 17

JAN 21

JAN 24

JAN 29

FEB 1

FEB 4

FEB 8

FEB 11

FEB 15

FEB 19

FEB 22

FEB 26 MAR 2 - 5 MAR 14 - APR 3

ILLINOIS TECH (EX) TRINITY CHRISTIAN LOYOLA CHICAGO JACKSONVILLE STATE at FORDHAM + vs. STONEHILL + vs. HOLY CROSS + at GREEN BAY MISSOURI STATE * at DRAKE * at WESTERN MICHIGAN PRAIRIE VIEW A&M NORTHEASTERN at NORTHWESTERN ILLINOIS STATE * at BRADLEY * BELMONT * at INDIANA STATE * DRAKE * at MURRAY STATE * at VALPARAISO * NORTHERN IOWA * at MISSOURI STATE * BRADLEY * at ILLINOIS STATE * EVANSVILLE * at SOUTHERN ILLINOIS * at BELMONT * INDIANA STATE * VALPARAISO * at EVANSVILLE * SOUTHERN ILLINOIS * MVC TOURNAMENT NCAA TOURNAMENT

LOCATION TIME

CU1 ARENA CU1 ARENA CU1 ARENA CU1 ARENA BRONX, NY BRONX, NY BRONX, NY GREEN BAY, WI CU1 ARENA DES MOINES, IA KALAMAZOO, MI CU1 ARENA CU1 ARENA EVANSTON, IL CU1 ARENA PEORIA, IL CU1 ARENA TERRE HAUTE, IN CU1 ARENA MURRAY, KY VALPARAISO, IN CU1 ARENA SPRINGFIELD, MO CU1 ARENA BLOOMINGTON, IL CU1 ARENA CARBONDALE, IL NASHVILLE, TN CU1 ARENA CU1 ARENA EVANSVILLE, IN CU1 ARENA ST. LOUIS, MO TBD

7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 4:00 PM 3:00 PM 3:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 5:00 PM 1:30 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM 7:00 PM 1:00 PM 7:00 PM TBD 7:00 PM TBD 6:00 PM TBD 7:00 PM TBD 7:00 PM TBD 7:00 PM TBD 7:00 PM TBD 7:00 PM 7:00 PM TBD TBD

MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME

OCT 27

NOV 2

NOV 7

NOV 14

NOV 16

NOV 21

NOV 22

NOV 23

NOV 27 DEC 1 DEC 4 DEC 14 DEC 20 DEC 30

JAN 1

JAN 5

JAN 7

JAN 11

JAN 14

JAN 19

JAN 21

JAN 27

JAN 29

FEB 1

FEB 4

FEB 10

FEB 12

FEB 17

FEB 19

FEB 23

FEB 25 MAR 3 MAR 4 MAR 9 - 13 MAR 15 - APR 2

BENEDICTINE (EX)

WHEATON (EX) at IUPUI at CHICAGO STATE MILWAUKEE vs. FARLEIGH-DICKINSON + vs. DAVIDSON + vs. AUSTIN PEAY + ST. THOMAS LOYOLA CHICAGO at CINCINNATI NORTHWESTERN at SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE at MURRAY STATE * at BELMONT * INDIANA STATE * EVANSVILLE * VALPARAISO * SOUTHERN ILLINOIS * at DRAKE * at NORTHERN IOWA * BRADLEY * ILLINOIS STATE * at VALPARAISO * at MISSOURI STATE * NORTHERN IOWA DRAKE * at EVANSVILLE * at INDIANA STATE * at ILLINOIS STATE at BRADLEY * BELMONT * MURRAY STATE * MVC TOURNAMENT NCAA TOURNAMENT

CU1 ARENA CU1 ARENA INDIANAPOLIS, IN CHICAGO, IL CU1 ARENA SAVANNAH, GA SAVANNAH, GA SAVANNAH, GA CU1 ARENA CU1 ARENA CINCINNATI, OH CU1 ARENA CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO MURRAY, KY NASHVILLE, TN CU1 ARENA CU1 ARENA CU1 ARENA CU1 ARENA DES MOINES, IA CEDAR FALLS, IA CU1 ARENA CU1 ARENA VALPARAISO, IN SPRINGFIELD, MO CU1 ARENA CU1 ARENA EVANSVILLE, IN TERRE HAUTE, IN NORMAL, IL BRADLEY, IL CU1 ARENA CU1 ARENA MOLINE, IL TBD

7:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:00 PM 5:30 PM 7:00 PM 10:30 AM 1:00 PM 1:00 PM 2:00 PM 7:00 PM 2:00 PM 7:00 PM 11:00 AM 6:00 PM 2:00 PM 7:00 PM 2:00 PM 7:00 PM 2:00 PM 6:00 PM 2:00 PM 7:00 PM 5:30 PM 6:00 PM 1:00 PM 7:00 PM 1:00 PM 6:00 PM 12:00 PM 6:30 PM 2:00 PM 7:00 PM 2:00 PM TBD TBD

LUKE YAKLICH

MEN’S HEAD COACH

No stranger to the state of Illinois and the Chicagoland area, Luke Yaklich (YOCK-litch) was named head men’s basketball coach for the UIC Flames by Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Michael Lipitz on March 26, 2020.

Yaklich brings 21 years of coaching experience to Chicago and has helped lead three collegiate programs – Texas, Michigan and Illinois State – to national postseason success. In his second season with the Flames in 2021-22, Yaklich mentored freshman Jace Carter to the League’s AllNewcomer Team, the first UIC representative on the list in five years. Additionally, Yaklich has coached two Flames to Player of the Week honors and one to Third Team All-Conference accolades.

Prior to arriving at UIC, Yaklich was the associate head coach for Shaka Smart at the University of Texas where he helped the Longhorns to a third place Big XII finish and presumptive NCAA Tournament berth in 2019-20 (prior to that year’s tournament being canceled). Considered one of the

top defensive minds in the game, Yaklich shaped a defense that ranked in the top 30 in the NCAA in scoring defense by allowing only 63.3 points per game.

Yaklich previously served as an assistant coach for John Beilein at the University of Michigan. He helped lead the Wolverines to a pair of 30-win seasons, two Sweet 16 appearances, and the 2018 National Championship Game.

Michigan won over 80 percent of its games for a total of 63 victories in Yaklich’s two campaigns. The Wolverines ranked eighth nationally in scoring defense (63.3 ppg) in his first season on the bench (2017-18) and advanced to the NCAA Championship game against Villanova. It was the first time a Michigan team led the Big Ten in scoring defense since 1963-64. It also ranked third nationally that year in Defensive Efficiency by the KenPom ratings (90.5).

During Yaklich’s second season in Ann Arbor, Michigan once again led the Big Ten and ranked second nationally in scoring defense (57.7 ppg) and second in KenPom’s Defensive Efficiency (86.2). The team posted 30 wins, earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16 before bowing out against Texas Tech, the eventual national runner-up.

Yaklich began his collegiate coaching career at his alma mater, Illinois State, on the staff of head coach Dan Muller. From 2013-17, he helped the Redbirds win 86 games and earn three postseason bids (2 NIT; 1 CBI). Yaklich was elevated to associate head coach prior to the 2016-17 campaign, and that year ISU posted a 28-7 overall mark, including a 17-1 record in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Redbirds set single-season program records for overall wins (28), regular-season victories (25) and conference wins (17). ISU concluded that season ranked fifth in the NCAA in field-goal percentage defense (37.9 percent) and seventh in scoring defense (61.3 ppg).

A teacher in the truest sense, Yaklich ascended to the collegiate ranks after serving as head coach of highly successful Illinois high school programs for 14 years, where in addition to coaching, he also taught U.S. history. He was the head boys’ basketball coach at Joliet West High School (Joliet, Ill.) for six seasons, while also leading the Joliet Pride and Illinois Wolves AAU teams.

During his final season at Joliet West (2012-13), Yaklich led the Tigers to 19 wins and an IHSA Class 4A Lockport Regional title. He also guided the 2009-10 team to a 24-8 record and the HomewoodFlossmoor Sectional Championship. He earned 2010 District 9 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) Coach of the Year honors.

Yaklich also coached at his high school alma mater, LaSalle-Peru High School, from 2003-07 (boys) and 1999-2000 (girls). In between, he was the head boys basketball coach at Sterling High School in Sterling, Ill., from 2000-03. Yaklich’s teams won 214 games in his 14 seasons as head coach.

A native of LaSalle, Ill., Yaklich is a 1994 graduate of La Salle-Peru Township High School, where he played basketball for the Cavaliers. He graduated from Illinois State University in 1998, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree with endorsements for American and world history, sociology, political science and geography.

The UIC head coach also earned two master’s degrees from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill. He received his Master of Education in 2004 and followed in 2009 with a Master of Education Administration. He also became a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) for social studies in 2012.

Yaklich and his wife Amy, have three children, Olivia, Griffin and Taylor.

YAKLICH FILE

2020 - Present: Head Coach, UIC

2019 - 2020: Associate Head Coach, Texas

2017 - 2019: Assistant Coach, Michigan

2016 - 2017: Associate Head Coach, Illinois State

2013 - 2016: Assistant Coach, Illinois State

2007 - 2013: Head Boys Basketball Coach, Joliet Township

2003 - 2007: Head Boys Basketball Coach, LaSalle-Peru

2000 - 2003: Head Boys Basketball Coach, Sterling

1990 - 2000: Head Girls Basketball Coach, LaSalle Peru

ASHLEEN BRACEY

WOMEN’S HEAD COACH

A familiar face returned to the Windy City and the Missouri Valley Conference when head coach Ashleen Bracey was announced as the 13th head coach in program history on March 28, 2022.

A native of nearby Oak Park, Ill., and former standout student-athlete at Illinois State University, Bracey arrived at UIC after spending the past six seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Missouri, a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). During her tenure at Mizzou,

WOMEN’S HEAD COACH

working alongside head coach Robin Pingeton, Bracey was instrumental in helping the Tigers reach three NCAA Tournaments and make two WNIT appearances.

Bracey played a pivotal role in Missouri’s recruiting efforts during her time in Columbia. Of note, she led efforts to sign the nation’s 12th-ranked recruiting class in 2019, regarded as the best in program history. The group included Aijha Blackwell, the top prospect in the state of Missouri and No. 9 in the country, as ranked by espnW.

The Flames head coach mentored seven All-SEC players and three All-SEC Freshman Team standouts while at Mizzou. In addition to Blackwell, All-Conference honorees coached by Bracey include three-time All-SEC First Team selection Sophie Cunningham, the 13th overall pick in the 2019 WNBA draft by the Phoenix Mercury.

Mizzou won at least 20 games three times in Bracey’s six seasons, including 24 victories in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 campaigns. The Tigers won 18 games in 2021-22, including an overtime thriller against No. 1 South Carolina and a road win at No. 15 Florida to close out the regular season. Bracey was responsible for developing and administering the game plan and scouting reports for both MU triumphs.

The 34-year-old Bracey cut her coaching teeth at several stops prior to arriving at Mizzou. From 201215, she served as the recruiting coordinator and assistant coach at UAB. She also spent time on staffs at Ball State University and Eureka College.

As a student-athlete, Bracey starred on the hardwood at Illinois State from 2006-10. She was a three-year starter for Pingeton and the Redbirds and was a key contributor on three Missouri Valley Conference championship squads. During her time at ISU, Bracey and her teammates reached the postseason each year, qualifying for the 2008 NCAA Tournament and making three appearances in the WNIT, reaching the semifinals in 2009 and 2010.

As a senior in 2009-10, Bracey served as team captain and earned All-MVC First Team honors, as well as a spot on the conference’s All-Defensive Team. She was selected MVC Player of the Week four times during that campaign and earned

recognition on the 2009-10 MVC Scholar-Athlete Team.

Bracey tallied 1,194 points as a Redbird, and shot over 50% from the floor for her career. Her 765 career rebounds tie her for fifth most in program history. She tallied 21 double-doubles in her Redbird career.

Upon graduating from Illinois State in 2010 with a degree in Criminal Justice Sciences, Bracey played professional basketball in Greece for one year prior to transitioning to the sideline as a coach.

Bracey attended Oak Park-River Forest High School, where she was a three-time All-West Suburban Conference honoree for the Huskies. Her brothers also played college basketball, Bryan (Oregon) and Chris (West Texas A&M), and went on to professional careers in Europe.

BRACEY FILE

2022 - Present: Head Coach, UIC

2016 - 2022: Assistant Coach, Missouri

2013 - 2016: Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, UAB

2012 - 2013: Assistant Coach, Ball State

2011 - 2012: Graduate Assistant, Missouri

2011: Assistant Coach, Eureka College

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JOVAN DUKES GRADUATE MANAGER

RYAN KAPUSTKA DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

LUKE YAKLICH HEAD COACH

WILL VEASLEY ASSISTANT COACH

BILL WUCZYNSKI ASSISTANT COACH

C.J. RIVERS ASSISTANT COACH

MARLON LONDON DIRECTOR OF SCOUTING

MADISON WILLIAMS DIRECTOR OF PLAYER PERSONNEL

JOEY NOTTOLI COORDINATOR OF CREATIVE SERVICES

DYLAN

WOMEN’S COACHING STAFF

WOMEN’S SUPPORT STAFF

ASSOCIATE

KYRA HOGAN GRADUATE MANAGER

ASHLEEN BRACEY HEAD COACH

REMY LORY DIRECTOR OF SCOUTING

MIKE DONOVAN ASSISTANT COACH

PAIGE PENDER DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

DODIE DUNSON ASSISTANT COACH

MIKE SCHWEIGERT ASSOCIATE AD SPORTS PERFORMANCE

CAPRICE SMITH ASSISTANT COACH

ABBEY COLCLASURE ASSISTANT ATHLETIC TRAINER

TIM HURLEY

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

SAM THORNTON ACADEMIC ADVISOR

STAFF

Tre Anderson

Cameron Fens

Bessanty Saragba

Jaden Brownell

Jalen Jackson

Filip Skobalj

Jace Carter

Christian Jones

Steven Clay

Toby Okani

ANDERSON

PRIOR TO UIC:

Spent the 2021-22 season at Idaho after playing three seasons at San Francisco. Ranked second on the team in scoring at Idaho, averaging 14.4 points per game. Led the team in assists with 3.5 per game. One of two players to start in all 31 contests for the Vandals. Shot 41.9% from the field. While at USF, Tre helped the team to 54 wins, including 22 during the 2019-20 season.

PERSONAL/PREP:

Team Captain at Rainier Beach in each of his last three seasons. Named First Team All-State, Washington State All-Tournament First Team and First Team All-League. Helped the Vikings to a runner-up finish in the Washington State Tournament. Played for the Washington Supreme in AAU. Son of Juliet Hart and Jonathan Anderson. Tre has two siblings, Asjon and Asjia.

JADEN BROWNELL

2021-22:

Did not appear in a game. Redshirted.

PERSONAL/PREP:

Attended Alta High School where he averaged 19.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Jaden was ranked as the 26th best prospect in the state of Utah. Was named First Team All-State and the Class 5A Most Outstanding Player.

JACE CARTER

2021-22:

Horizon League All-Freshman Team. Started 17 of the final 18 games of the season after missing time due to injury. Averaged 8.1 points per game while ranking second on the team with 5.4 rebounds per contest. Scored in double figures in eight games, including a season-high 17 at Youngstown State. Finished the game against the Penguins 6-for-11 from the field and 5-for-10 from 3-point range. Jace hauled in a season-best 10 rebounds in UIC’s regular season finale against Milwaukee. Was named Horizon League Freshman of the Week on Feb. 21 following a week with three 10+ point performances. Fell one rebound shy of his first collegiate doubledouble in the quarterfinals of the Horizon League Tournament, finishing with 16 points and nine rebounds against Purdue Fort Wayne.

PERSONAL/PREP:

Attended Astronaut High School where he was named the 2020 Player of the Year by the Space Coast Daily and the Brevard Sports Network. Selected to the 2020 Florida Today First Team All-Space Coast while also being a three-time finalist for the Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) 4A Player of the Year award in 2020. Tabbed as a three-star prospect by 247Sports. Scored over 1,500 career points in three seasons of action at Astronaut while being a three-time All-Cape Coast Conference honoree.

STEVEN CLAY

PERSONAL/PREP:

Three-star recruit according to 247Sports and the No. 6 player in the state of Wisconsin. Steven led Menomonee Falls to a 25-4 record and an appearance in the WIAA Division 1 State semifinals as a senior after averaging 19.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.4 blocks per game. Averaged at least 12.5 points per game in every season of competition and finished his high school career with an 18.1 scoring average. Steven scored 1,646 career points. He also brought in at least 6.2 rebounds per game every season and finished with 646 career rebounds. He played for Phenom University in the EYBL. His mother, Rita, played basketball collegiately.

CAMERON FENS

PERSONAL/PREP:

Averaged a double-double as a senior at Hempstead High School with 18.7 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. Led the team to an appearance in the Iowa Class 4A Substate finals. Collected 272 total rebounds as a senior to break the previous school single-season record. Led the team with 59 blocks on the year. Shot 63% from the field in both his junior and senior seasons. After averaging 9.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and recording 24 total blocks as a junior, Fens nearly doubled his output in all three categories as a senior. Played for the Martin Brothers AAU program. Father, Randy, played college basketball at Northern Illinois University.

Jalen Jackson

PERSONAL/PREP:

Selected to compete on the 2022 IndyStar Indiana Boys All-Stars Team. Ended his senior year at Northrop High School as the No. 2 scorer in the state, averaging 27.6 points per game to go along with 9.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.3 steals per game. A varsity starter each of the last three seasons of high school, Jackson shot 50% from the field last year while helping the Bruins to an appearance in the sectional finals of the IHSAA Class 4A State Tournament.

CHRISTIAN JONES

PERSONAL/PREP:

Three-star prospect according to Rivals and 247Sports. Ranked as the No. 8 player in Illinois. Helped East St. Louis to a 28-6 record and a perfect 11-0 mark in Southwestern Conference play as a senior. Averaged 15.4 points per game while leading the team in assists (6.9), steals (2.1), and ranking third in rebounding (5.3). Led East St. Louis to a No. 1 seed in the IHSA Class 3A tournament, guiding his team to a sectional title and appearance in the supersectional round of the state tournament.

TOBY OKANI

PRIOR TO UIC:

Made 25 career starts in two seasons at Duquesne, including 15 last year. Scored a season high 13 points against Richmond last season and scored in double figures on three occasions while at Duquesne. Okani grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds and tied his career-best with three steals in 35 minutes of action at Rhode Island. As a freshman, Toby saw action in all 18 games while making 10 starts. He ranked third on the team in rebounding. Okani came off the bench to score a career-high 14 points in 22 minutes at George Washington, going a perfect 6-for-6 from the field (2-for-2 from 3-point range).

PERSONAL/PREP:

Ranked as a three-star recruit according to Rivals. com. Cited as the No. 5 player in Massachusetts and No. 29 player in New England by New England Recruiting Report. Helped Cushing Academy to a 23-7 record against a national schedule as a senior. The team went undefeated in NEPSAC Class AA play (15-0) making the Penguins the first AA program to go undefeated in conference play since 2014-15. His team was 1-of-14 qualifiers for the 2020 National Prep Championship. Okani attended St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, N.J. as a senior and West Orange (N.J.) High School through his junior season. A two-time All-Super Essex Conference Liberty Division pick while at West Orange. He played for the PSA Cardinals (NY) on the EYBL circuit.

Bessanty SARAGBA

PREP/PERSONAL:

A native Marseilles, France, Saragba graduated from Trinity Collegiate School in Darlington, SC Carolina. Collected Defensive Player of the Year accolades and earned All-Region and All-State honors three consecutive years for the Titans. Saragba led his team to a 2021 Class AAA State Championship in South Carolina after finishing runner-up in 2020. As a senior, the center nearly averaged a double-double with 11.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 2.0 assists per game.

SKOBALJ

2021-22:

Appeared in 29 games during his rookie campaign while making 22 starts. Finished the season averaging 6.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per contest while shooting 37.1% from 3-point range. Recorded his first collegiate double-double against Northern Kentucky with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Scored in double figures in six games. Dished out a seasonbest five assists in an overtime win at Robert Morris. Ranked fourth on the team with 43 made 3-pointers during the season.

PERSONAL/PREP:

Played for the Rockstock SeaWolves prior to joining the Flames. Averaged 26 points and 11 rebounds for Rockstock’s U19 team in the NBBL, the top youth league in Germany. While competing at the prestigious Adidas Next Generation U18 tournament for Bayern München, Skobalj averaged 15 points and five rebounds. He brings international experience to the Flames, having competed for Serbia’s U18 and U16 national teams as well as Sweden’s U16 national team. While playing up on the U18 Serbian national team, Skobalj averaged six points per game while shooting 39% from 3-point range at the 2019 FIBA European Championships.

GRIFFIN YAKLICH

2021-22:

Appeared in 11 games off the bench. Scored four points at Wright State while adding two points in a season high 17 minutes against Trinity Christian. Yaklich brought in a rebound and collected a steal against Trinity Christian. He picked up an assist at Detroit Mercy and halled in a rebound at Green Bay.

2020-21: Appeared in seven games off the bench. Made collegiate debut against Oakland (Dec. 19), recording his first steal and assist. Scored the first basket of his college career against the Mastodons (Jan. 9) finishing with two points and a season-high three rebounds in 13 minutes of action. Added two points in his seventh game of the season, finishing 1-for-1 from the field against IUPUI (Feb. 12).

PERSONAL/PREP:

Son of head coach Luke Yaklich and Amy Yaklich. Griffin has two sisters, Olivia and Taylor. He was born on September 8.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ROSTER

# NAME POS. HT. YR. HOMETOWN 0 KEONA SCHENCK G 5-6 JR. SOMERSET, NJ 1 KRISTIAN YOUNG G 5-5 JR. INDIANAPOLIS, IN 2 NORA AHRAM G 5-5 FR. HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL 3 SARA ZABRECKY G 5-9 JR. MUNSTER, IN 4 JAIDA McCLOUD G/F 6-3 JR. PEORIA, IL 5 KY DEMPSEY-TONEY F 6-2 SO. FRANKLIN, NJ 11 KENNADY SCHENCK G 5-6 JR. SOMERSET, NJ 12 TIANA JACKSON G 5-8 SR. SOMERSET, NJ 13 BAILEY LUTES G 5-8 SO. CUBA CITY, WI 14 LEAH YARBROUGH F 6-1 SO. INDIANAPOLIS, IN 15 LINDSEY ROGERS G/F 6-0 JR. NAPERVILLE, IL 23 MARTA GOMEZ G 5-8 FR. MADRID, SPAIN` 25 DANYEL MIDDLETON G 5-10 JR. CHICAGO, IL 34 JOSIE FILER F 6-1 GR. DES MOINES, IA 35 DYLAN VAN FLEET G 5-7 JR. DES PLAINES, IL

Nora Ahram

Tiana Jackson

Lindsey Rogers

Leah Yarbrough

Ky Dempsey-Toney

Bailey Lutes

Kennady Schenck

Kristian Young

Josie Filer

Jaida McCloud Keona

NORA AHRAM

PERSONAL/PREP:

Helped guide Saint Viator to one IHSA Class 3A Sectional championship and three IHSA Class 3A Regional championships. Named a four-time Daily Herald honorable mention in addition to being an ESCC All-Conference selection as a senior. In her final year, Ahram was recognized as one of the top 50 players on the News Gazette All-State team. She reached 1,000 career points during her senior season and set the Saint Viator school record with 457 career assists. Daughter of Mike and Sommer Ahram.

KY

DEMPSEY-TONEY

2021-22:

In her first season for the Flames, Dempsey-Toney played in 25 games, starting 15. Made her Flames debut against Purdue Fort Wayne (11/18). Scored her first career points against Purdue Fort Wayne (11/18). She averaged 3.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and finished second on the team in blocks with 19. Ranked ninth in the Horizon League, averaging 0.8 blocks per game. Notched two blocks and a careerhigh 15 points against Milwaukee (1/6). Scored in double-digits twice in her freshman season (15 vs. MKE - 1/6; 14 vs. ISU - 12/14).

PERSONAL/PREP:

Lettered all four years in basketball at Franklin High School. Led her team to a 78-24 overall record, including a perfect 34-0 sophomore season. Won the 2018-19 Skyland Conference Championship. Was Winter Athlete of the Year in 2020 and Group 4 MVP in 2021. Ranked in the All-Skyland Conference Select First Team. Honor Roll StudentAthlete. Daughter of Ronnetta Toney.

JOSIE FILER

PRIOR TO UIC:

Joins the Flames as a graduate transfer after spending the last four seasons at Omaha. Appeared in 80 games while making 75 starts for the Mavericks during her four-year tenure. Averaged 7.7 rebounds per game as a senior. As a junior in 2020-21, averaged a career-best 10.6 points per game after scoring 10 or more points in 11 contests. Poured in a career-high 26 points to go along with nine rebounds in a 105-102 overtime victory against Western Illinois. For her career, Filer scored 10 or more points 26 times while bringing in 10 or more rebounds on 12 occasions. Has several career double-doubles, including a game against Oral Roberts as a senior where she recorded a careerhigh 16 rebounds to go along with 14 points. Filer recorded a double-double as a junior with 19 points and 12 rebounds in a win over South Dakota State.

PERSONAL/PREP:

Four-year letterwinner at Dowling Catholic High School in Des Moines, Iowa where she set the school record with 25 rebounds in a single game. She played travel basketball for the All-Iowa Attack.

MARTA GOMEZ

PERSONAL/PREP:

Helped guide her team to the Copa de la Reina title in 2021. Captured the Madrid City Championship three years in a row (2017, 2018, 2019). Selected to participate on the Spanish National U15 Team. Made her club debut with Movistar Estudiantes in the Liga Femenina Endesa on October 31, 2021. Attended Ortega y Gasset high school. Daughter of Joaquín and Victoria Gómez.

#12

TIANA JACKSON

GUARD | 5-8

2021-22: Played in five games before an injury halted her season.

2020-21: One of just two players to play and start all 19 games. Finished the season averaging 6.6 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. Turned in four doubledigit scoring efforts. Recorded the second-most assists on the squad with 50. Ranked 11th in the Horizon League with an average of 2.6 assists per game. Ended the season shooting 43.6 percent overall, 40 percent from three point range

Recorded nine points and matched her then personal-best five assists in the season opener at Eastern Illinois (11/25). Collected nine points at Western Michigan (12/5). Set a new career high with six assists at Oakland (12/12) and finished the series at Oakland with 12 points, six rebounds and four assists (12/13). Handed out five assists in UIC’s overtime win over Detroit Mercy (12/19). Had six points and four rebounds in the Youngstown State finale (1/16). Recorded 15 points and handed out five assists in the opener at Youngstown State (1/22). Ended the series at Youngstown State with 12 points, two rebounds and two steals (1/23). Tallied six points, four rebounds and handed out five assists in the Green Bay opener (2/12).

Recorded five points and five rebounds in the finale at Green Bay (2/13). Finished with 11 points, three rebounds and a season-high three steals in the Milwaukee finale (2/20).

2019-20:

Appeared in 26 games, making 22 starts. Ranked fourth on the team in points (194) and second in assists (69). Brought in five points, one rebound and made three steals in her first game as a Flame (11/7). Shot 34.8 percent from the field. Recorded eight points and handed out a team-high four assists at Kansas (11/10). Collected six points, two rebounds and handed out two assists vs. Eastern Illlinois (11/16). Recorded seven rebounds, two assists and two steals against Indiana State (11/19). Handed out four assists vs. Florida State (11/23). Led the squad with a personal-best 13 points at Miami (11/26). Scored eight points and made two assists at Youngstown State (12/30). Recorded six points and four rebounds against Detroit Mercy (1/2). Brought in her second double-digit performance of the season with 11 points against Oakland (1/4), while also making a career-high six steals. Matched her personal best with 13 points against Wright State (1/9), while also pulling down five rebounds and making three assists. Handed out a personal-best five assists vs. Northern Kentucky (1/11). Finished with eight points and six rebounds at Milwaukee (1/17). Led the team at Green Bay (1/19) with 12 points while also rebounding three and making a pair of steals. Led the squad for the second-straight game with 14 points and a personal-best five assists vs. IUPUI (1/25). Poured in a career-high 18 points off 7-of-11 shooting and matched her personal-best five assists against Youngstown State (1/30). Paced the team with 11 points and a team-high four assists at Oakland (2/6). Came away with eight points and a careerhigh eight rebounds at Northern Kentucky (2/13). Led the squad with 13 points at Wright State (2/15). Rebounded seven and assisted on five against Green Bay (2/21). Finished with six points and seven rebounds at IUPUI (2/28). Led the team with 10 points at Wright State (3/3).

PREP/PERSONAL:

Four-year letter winner in basketball at Franklin High School. Was a member of the 2019 FHS squad that ranked 12th in the country. Set a new girls’ high school record in assists with 373 for her career. Led her team in assists in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Helped her team to an undefeated season in 2019 (34-0), making both New Jersey and Franklin High School history. Took home the Championship at the Tournament of Champions in 2017 and 2019. Was a part of the 2018 Tournament of Champions Runnerup squad.Won the Somerset County Championship

in 2018 and 2019 with Franklin High School. Crowned a Group Four Title State and Sectional Champion in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Earned the title of Franklin High School’s Somerset County Principals Association Female Scholar Athlete in 2019. Was a member of the 2019 All-Group Four Third Team. Selected as an All-Star Classic Player at the No Boyz Allowed Fall League Tournament in Elizabeth, New Jersey in 2017, where her team finished as runner-up. Named to the AAU All-Star Team (Pool L) at the 2016 Nike /US Junior National Girls Basketball Championship. Participated in both the National Honors Society and the National Society of High School Scholars from 2017-19. Was a member of the French Honors Society from 2016-18. Graduated in the top-10 percent of her high school class as a four-year Honor Roll member. Daughter of Walter and Catina Jackson.

| 5-8

BAILEY LUTES GUARD

2021-22:

In her freshman season, played in 26 games and started 17. Made her Flames debut against Northwestern. Scored her first career points against Purdue Fort Wayne (11/18). Named Horizon League Freshman of the Week after putting up a careerhigh eight points, along with four rebounds against Valparaiso (11/23). Notched a career-high six rebounds against Purdue Fort Wayne (1/29). Ranked 22nd in the Horizon League in minutes per game, averaging 30 minutes a contest.

PERSONAL/PREP:

Lettered all four years at Sun Prairie High School and Cuban City High School. Led teams to a 71-23 record in her four years. Won the Conference and Regional Championships her first year with Sun Prairie. Was a member of the Co-Conference Championship team her junior season with Cuban City. Lutes was named to the First Team AllConference in her junior and senior seasons and named the Conference Player of the Year her senior season. Led her team in points, rebounds, assists, and steals. She’s the single-season record holder at Cuban City High School for free-throw attempts and makes. Named to the Telegraph Herald AllArea Team, Honorable Mention All-State, and was an All-Star game selection as a senior. Lettered three years in cross country. Won conference, sectional and the state championship in her freshman year. Was a member of the state runnerup team in her sophomore year. Awarded Academic All-State in her sophomore season. Her mother and aunt both played basketball at Ripon College in Wisconsin. Daughter of Brad and Heather Lutes.

JAIDA MCCLOUD

#4

2021-22:

In her sophomore season, McCloud was named the Horizon League All-Second Team. Started all 27 game games for UIC. She led the Flames with 441 points and ranked second in the Horizon League. Averaged 16.3 ppg, ranking fifth in the Horizon League in that category. Led the Flames in rebounds with 168, ranking 11th in the Horizon League with an average of 6.2 per game. Ranked fourth in the Horizon League in field goal percentage, shooting .468 from the field. Ranked eighth in the nation in free throws made with 147. and third nationally in free throws attempted with 200. Ranked ninth in the Horizon League in free throw percentage, shooting .735 percent from the charity stripe. Dished the second-most assists for the Flames with 50 on the season. Ranked second on the team in steals, finishing with 50 steals. Ranked sixth in the Horizon League with an average of 1.9 steals per game. Led the team with 24 blocks on the season. Ranked seventh in blocks per game with 0.9. Ranked 11th in the Horizon League in minutes per game, averaging 32.5. Scored a careerhigh 30 points against Detroit Mercy (12/4). Grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds against Cleveland State (1/27). Blocked a career-tying five shots against Robert Morris (1/16). Attempted a career-high 17 free throws against Detroit Mercy (12/4). Made a career-high 14 free throws against Detroit Mercy (12/4 Recorded four double-doubles on the year.

2020-21:

Horizon League All-Freshman Team. Played in 14 games and made 10 starts. Led the Flames in both points per game (13.7) and rebounds per game (6.3). Finished the season shooting a team-high 45.8 percent overall. Also shot 57.6 percent from

the free-throw line. Handed out the third-most assists on the squad with 34 and also ranked third in steals with 29. Finished the season with 10 double-digit scoring efforts. Took home UIC’s first Horizon League weekly award since 2016 when she was named Freshman of the Week on Dec. 7. Led all scorers with 21 points in her collegiate debut at Eastern Illinois (11/25). Also recorded seven rebounds, five assists and made three steals in the season opener. Tallied 14 points, eight rebounds and made five steals at Eastern Michigan (11/29). Earned her Horizon League Freshman of the Week title after picking up her first career double-double at Western Michigan (12/5) with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Led the team in points (17), rebounds (8) and assists (7) at Oakland (12/12). Was in doubledouble territory in the Oakland finale (12/13) with nine points and nine rebounds. Contributed nine points, six rebounds and made a pair of blocks against Detroit Mercy (12/20). Paced the team with 20 points while also bringing in six rebounds and three steals at Youngstown State (1/22). Collected 11 points, three assists, two blocks and two steals against Rockford (1/30). Brought in 11 points, three steals and a team-high five rebounds in the IUPUI opener (2/5). Led the team in points (16) and rebounds (5) and also handed out four assists in the IUPUI finale (2/6). Paced the squad with 12 points in the Milwaukee finale (2/20). Turned in 14 points and seven rebounds against Cleveland State in the first round of the Horizon League Championship (2/25).

PREP/PERSONAL:

Lettered four years in basketball and one year in track and field at Richwoods High School. Helped team to three Big 12 Conference Championships and one conference co-championship. Earned four Regional Championships and two Sectional Championships. Helped squad to a Super-Sectional Championship. Was a member of the 2018 State Championship team. Set a record of 17 rebounds during the 2017-18 IHSA Class 3A State Title game. Took home Big 12 Conference First Team honors in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Earned a spot on the Peoria Journal Star All-Area First Team in 2018 and again in 2019. Was an IBCA Girls Basketball Class 3A/4A Third Team All-State honoree for both the 2017-18 season and the 2018-19 season. Took home IBCA Girls Basketball Class 3A/4A Second Team All-State honors for the 2019-20 season. Was an Illinois AP 3A Honorable Mention for the 2017-18 season. Earned Illinois AP 3A Second Team All-State honors

in both the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. Named 2019-20 Sterling All-Tournament MVP after taking home All-Tournament Team honors in 2018. Took home Morton All-Tournament Team honors in 2018 and again in 2019-20. Was a member of the 201920 State Farm All-Tournament Team. Daughter of Jonelle and Daniel McCloud. Also has an older sister named Jonae. Intended major at UIC is communications.

MIDDLETON

PRIOR TO UIC:

Joins the Flames following two years at Marquette. Appeared in 26 games a season ago while averaging 12 minutes per contest. Recorded her first collegiate double-double in a win over BIG EAST foe DePaul, finishing with 12 points on 5-for10 shooting to go along with a team-high 10 rebounds. Followed the performance with another 12 points in a win over Georgetown on Jan. 14, finishing 5-for-9 from the field while adding five rebounds. Appeared in 31 career games for Marquette. Excellent in the classroom, Middleton was named to the BIG EAST All-Academic Team in 2020-21 as.

PERSONAL/PREP:

A four-year letterwinner at Bolingbrook High School, Middleton was rated as the No. 28 point guard nationally, according to World Exposure Report. While at Bolingbrook, Middleton was an all-conference performer and was named the program’s Most Valuable Player in addition to being named to the All-Area Team after helping the Raiders to its first super sectional title since 2012. Competed on the Mac Irvin Fire AAU program, one of the top programs in the country, helping the team rank as high as No. 2 in the nation.

GUARD/FORWARD | 6-0

LINDSEY ROGERS

2021-22:

In her sophomore season, Rogers played in 26 games, starting 18 averaging 3.9 ppg and shot a team-high .773 free throw percentage. Scored 14 points against Milwaukee (1/6). Grabbed a seasonhigh seven rebounds against Milwaukee (1/6). Dished a career-high-tying four assists against Northwestern (11/12). Played 38 minutes against Milwaukee. Notched a career-high eight free throws against Milwaukee.

2020-21:

Played in 15 games and made 13 starts. Finished the season with a team-high 40.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Her 1.4 threes per game tied for 13th in the Horizon League. Turned in eight double-digit scoring efforts. Averaged 9.3 points per game and 3.7 rebounds per game. Shot 44.3

WOMEN’S PLAYER PROFILES

percent overall and 69.6 percent from the freethrow line. Was one of four players to reach double figures in the season opener at Eastern Illinois (11/25) with 10 points. Tallied a personal-best 17 points including a trio of threes in the Youngstown State opener (1/15). Recorded eight points at Youngstown State (1/22). Collected her first doubledouble as a Flame against Rockford (1/30) with 13 points and a personal-best 10 rebounds. Brought in 14 points and four rebounds in the IUPUI opener (2/5). Finished out the series against IUPUI (2/6) with another 14-point showing behind four threes. Tallied 14 points behind 6-for-12 shooting while also picking up five rebounds and three assists in the Green Bay opener (2/12). Led the team with 15 points behind a career-high five threes in the finale at Green Bay (2/13). Also turned in five rebounds in the Green Bay finale. Paced the team with 10 points in the opener against Milwaukee (2/19). Collected nine points, three rebounds and a personal-best four assists in the Milwaukee finale (2/20). Finished the season with six points, three rebounds, three assists and two blocks against Cleveland State in the first round of the Horizon League Championship (2/25).

PREP/PERSONAL:

Lettered all four years in basketball at Benet Academy. Helped her team to three conference titles, four regional titles, two sectional tiles and one super-sectional title. Guided team to a fourthplace finish in the 2019 Class 4A State Finals. Played AAU for The Truth Basketball. Took home Naperville Sun All-Area honors for both the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. Was the 2019-20 three-point Regional Champion. Was a member of the 2020 Voyager Media Prep Shoot Out All-Star Team. Earned Naperville North All-Tournament Team honors in 2017. Was on the Honor Roll all eight semesters. Daughter of Dr. Susan Fedinec and Jay Rogers. Her mother Susan played volleyball at the University of South Carolina and at Ohio State. Has a younger brother (Drew).

KENNADY SCHENCK

2021-22:

Made Flames debut against Indiana State (12/14). Scored first career points and recorded a steal against Milwaukee (1/6).

2020-21: Did not make an appearance.

PREP/PERSONAL:

Lettered four years in basketball at Franklin High School. Accumulated over 800 career points. Helped her team to two Somerset County Championships, four sectional championships and three Group Four Title State Championships. Made history winning the Tournament of Champions her freshman year. Compiled a perfect 34-0 record her junior year (2019). That 2019 Franklin squad ranked No. 12 in the country and No. 1 in the state of New Jersey. Was also a member of the 2017 Franklin squad that ranked No. 1 in New Jersey and the 2018 squad that ranked No. 2. Helped club team (Team Miller 2020 Elite) to multiple championships including the Boo Williams and Nike Junior Nationals. Named Jersey Sports Zone All-Zone Team in 2019. Was a Courier News All-Area Girls Honorable Mention. Daughter of Troy and Shavona Schenck.

GUARD | 5-6

KEONA SCHENCK

2021-22:

In her sophomore season, Schenck started all 27 games, averaging 34.5 minutes per contest. Ranked second in the Horizon League in minutes per game during the 2021-22 season; 104th in the nation. Finished the season averaging 5.9 ppg, 2.6 rebounds per game, and 1.0 assists per game. Made a team-high 36 3-pointers. Ranked ninth in the Horizon League in steals per game, averaging 1.7. Ranked 16th in 3-point field goals per game with 1.3 per contest. Scored a season-high 12 points three times. Notched a career-high four assists against Oakland (2/6). Made three 3-pointers against Northwestern (11/10).

2020-21:

One of just two players to play and start in all 19 games. Finished the season averaging 9.2 ppg, 2.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game. Shot 38.4 percent overall, 29.1 percent from three and 60.5 percent from the free-throw line. Turned in 10

double-digit scoring efforts. Finished the season third in the Horizon League in steals, averaging 2.0 takes per game. Averaged 1.6 threes per game to rank 10th in the Horizon League. Finished the season second in the League in minutes, averaging 34.7 per game. One of four players to reach double digits in the season opener at EIU (11/25) with 10 points. Also recorded five rebounds and three steals in her collegiate debut. Led the team with 16 points off 4-of-8 shooting beyond the arc at Eastern Michigan (11/29). Paced the squad with 17 points at Oakland (12/13). Tallied 14 points and three steals in UIC’s overtime win over Detroit Mercy (12/19). Led the team with 11 points in the Titan finale (12/20). Brought in 10 points, a team-high six rebounds and made four steals against Youngstown State (1/15). Recorded a career-high 19 points and a personalbest seven steals at Youngstown State (1/22). Finished with eight points in the Green Bay opener (2/12). Cashed in a trio of threes to finish with 11 points in the finale at Green Bay (2/13). Collected six points and a team-high four rebounds in the series finale against Milwaukee (2/20). Led the Flames with 15 points while also made four steals against Cleveland State in the first round of the Horizon League Championship (2/25).

PREP/PERSONAL:

Lettered four years in basketball at Franklin High School. Helped her team to two Somerset County Championships, four sectional championships and three Group Four Title State Championships. Made history winning the Tournament of Champions alongside her team her freshman year. Compiled a perfect 34-0 record alongside her team her junior year. That 2019 squad at Franklin ranked No. 12 in the country and No. 1 in the state of New Jersey. Was also a member of the 2017 Franklin squad that ranked No. 1 in New Jersey and the 2018 squad that ranked No. 2. Helped her club team (Team Miller 2020 Elite) to multiple championships including the Boo Williams and Nike Junior Nationals. Reached 1,000 points in her junior year. Named Jersey Sports Zone All-Zone Team in 2019. Picked up Courier News All-Area Girls First Team honors in 2019. Took home All-State honors. Was named Scholar Athlete of the Year at Franklin. Was a member of the National Honors Society. Daughter of Troy and Shavona Schenck.

Dylan VAN FLEET

PRIOR TO UIC:

Spent her first two seasons at Morton College where she started 33 games as a sophomore and eight as a true freshman. Ranked second on the team in scoring as a sophomore, averaging 15.3 points per game. Scored 20 or more points on nine occasions. Dropped a career-high 29 points against Black Hawk-Moline, finishing 9-for-15 from the field and 4-for-9 from 3-point range. Also averaged 7.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.

PERSONAL/PREP:

Was a member of the 2019 Maine West women’s basketball team that won the IHSA State Championship. Helped lead the Warriors to a third-place finish in the 2018 state tournament. A two-time All-Conference and All-Area selection, Van Fleet was also named Second Team All-State. Led her team in steals. Also played soccer and ran cross country in high school. Earned All-Conference and All-Sectional honors in soccer. Daughter of Jeff Van Fleet and Lisa Nicholson. Father played soccer at Bradley.

LEAH YARBROUGH

PERSONAL/PREP:

Attended Brownsburg High School where she helped the team to a runner-up finish in the IHSAA Class 4A state tournament. The team won the IHSAA 4A regional title her senior year and claimed three IHSAA 4A sectional titles during her playing career. During her junior and senior seasons, Brownsburg posted a record of 38-20. She graduated from Brownsburg High School with academic honors. Daughter of Edward and Terri Yarbrough.

KRISTIAN YOUNG

2021-22:

In her sophomore season, Young played in 24 games, starting 13. She finished with a team-high 96 assists on the season. She ranked second in the Horizon League in assists per game, averaging 4.0. Ranked fifth in the Horizon in assist/turnover ratio (1.1). Ranked 20th in the Horizon with 9.9 ppg; the second-highest average for UIC. Ranked 20th in the Horizon in rebounds per game, averaging 5.0 a contest. Finished with 120 rebounds on the season, the second-best on UIC. Recorded two doubledoubles, once against Valpo with 14 points and a career-high 11 assists (11/23); once against Milwaukee with 18 points and ten rebounds (3/1). Led the team in steals with 59. Averaged a Horizon League-leading 2.5 steals per game. Grabbed a career-high-tying six steals against Cleveland State (1/27) and Detroit Mercy (2/14).

2020-21:

Played in all 19 games, making 18 starts. Led the team in total points with 203. Ranked 15th in the

Horizon League in scoring, averaging 10.7 points per game. Also ranked 15th in the League in rebounds, averaging 5.4 boards per game. Finished fourth in the conference in assists, averaging 4.1 helpers per game. Ended the season as the League’s runner-up in steals, averaging 2.2 takes per game. Ranked fifth in the League in minutes, averaging 33.6 minutes per game. Finished the season with a team-high 11 double-digit scoring efforts. One of four players to reach double digits in the season opener at Eastern Illinois (11/25) with 12 points. Turned in the first double-double for the Flames of the season at Eastern Michigan (11/29) with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Also recorded four assists and two steals against the Eagles. Collected 13 points, four rebounds, six assists and six steals at Western Michigan (12/5). Tallied 12 points, six rebounds and six assists at Oakland (12/12). Named Horizon League Freshman of the Week on Dec. 21 after averaging 10.5 points and 5.0 rebounds with five steals and 11 assists in UIC’s two-game series with Detroit Mercy (12/19-20). Finished the Youngstown State series opener (1/15) with nine points, five rebounds and a personal-best nine assists. Led the team in the Youngstown State finale (1/16) with a career-high 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Recorded 10 points, eight rebounds and three assists in the opener at Youngstown State (1/22). Turned in 15 points in the finale at Youngstown State (1/23). Collected nine points, two rebounds, three assists and three steals against Rockford (1/30). Tallied 10 points and handed out five assists in the IUPUI finale (2/6). Led the team with 17 points, four rebounds and five assists in the Green Bay opener (2/12). Finished with six points, six assists and a career-high 12 rebounds in the finale at Green Bay (2/13). Brought in nine points, a team-high seven rebounds, three steals and made a career-high three blocks in the Milwaukee opener (2/19). Recorded nine points and three rebounds in the finale against Milwaukee (2/20). Led the team with nine rebounds against Cleveland State in the first round of the Horizon League Championship (2/25).

PREP/PERSONAL:

Lettered in basketball at Lawrence North High School. Helped her team finish as State Runner-up in 2019. Guided her squad to a State Championship, a Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference (MIC) Championship and a Marion County Championship in 2020. Ranked in the top-60 of all Indiana players. Named Athlete of the Year. Garnered All-MIC

honors. Named both a junior All-Star and a senior All-Star. Ranked in the top-30 academically at Lawrence North. Daughter of Miwako Story and Gayle Young.

SARA ZABRECKY

PRIOR TO UIC:

Returns to the Midwest after spending her first two seasons at St. John’s where she appeared in 40 career games. As a freshman during the 2020-21 season, Zabrecky appeared in 21 games before playing in 19 contests as a sophomore. A prolific 3-point shooter, Zabrecky shot 37% from beyond the arc as a sophomore. Scored a career-high nine points on 3-of-4 shooting from long distance in an 86-68 win over Yale.

PERSONAL/PREP:

A four-star recruit coming out of high school according to Prospect Nation. Transferred to Munster High School prior to her senior year where she helped lead the Mustangs to a program-record 22 wins and their first sectional title since 2010. During her senior year, Zabrecky was named the 2020 Northwest Indiana Times Player of the Year after averaging 15.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Zabrecky broke the program’s singleseason records for points (491), field goals (166), free throws (105) and charges drawn (14). As a junior at Lake Central High School, Zabrecky was selected to the Northwest Indiana (NWI) Times and Chico Post Tribune All-Area Teams.

MICHAEL LIPITZ

DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS

Michael Lipitz joined UIC in October 2019 following two decades in the Atlantic Coast Conference at North Carolina State University and the University of Maryland.

Through his first three years at the helm, Lipitz has led the Flames to historic results in the classroom, in competition, and in the community. He also successfully spearheaded UIC’s move to the Missouri Valley Conference beginning with the 2022-23 academic year.

The Flames have posted the best academic results in school history in recent years, recording a cumulative 3.4 GPA for the 2020-21 academic year, and an all-time high 91% Graduation Success Rate in Fall 2021.

Student-athlete health and wellness are a focus for Flames Athletics under Lipitz’s leadership. In fall 2020, the department launched the Flames Leadership Institute to provide comprehensive programming in leadership, career development, personal development, equity and inclusion, and service to the campus and Chicago communities. In spring 2021, UIC Athletics developed the Flames Unite initiative as an umbrella for its DEI efforts and resources. The department also invested in a multi-year partnership with Millennium Counseling that has significantly expanded student-athlete access to mental wellness resources.

UIC captured its first-ever Horizon League Women’s All-Sport Trophy in 2021, as measured by team finishes in the regular season and championships. The Flames won three Horizon League Championships in softball, women’s tennis, and volleyball, along with three individual titles in women’s diving, men’s diving, and men’s cross country. In addition, Lena Kurz of women’s soccer won the 2021 Senior CLASS Award recognizing the nation’s best all-around senior, the first UIC student-athlete in any sport to be so honored.

Athletics has set fundraising records as well, with Giving Tuesday 2021 achieving record donor participation, after raising the most dollars in program history in 2020. UIC also received its third largest endowed scholarship gift in program history last year. Athletics recently relaunched its annual giving program, the Flames Athletics Fund, to incentivize annual giving and better reward current and future donors, and created Sparky’s Kids Club for its youngest Flames.

UIC is enhancing its athletics facilities, too. The Flames Athletic Center basketball practice facility and team spaces have been renovated, while enhanced branding has been installed throughout athletics facilities following the department’s comprehensive refresh of its athletics brand. UIC opened Chicago’s premier collegiate soccer venue in fall 2022 following a $5M renovation of Flames Field. Presently, the Flames are pursuing a comprehensive student-athlete performance center to enhance student-athlete resources in athletic medicine, sports performance, nutrition, mental wellness, and related health and wellness services.

Lipitz serves in leadership roles on UIC’s campus and nationally. He is a member of the Chancellor’s Cabinet at UIC and serves on the MVC Council of Athletic Directors, Finance Committee, Long-Range Planning Committee, and Sports Medicine Committee. During the 2021-22 academic year, he was one of 10 athletic directors nationally on the NCAA Division I Competition Oversight Committee.

He holds a law degree from Villanova University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Maryland, where he captained the men’s tennis team. He and his wife, Kerry, have two sons, Henry and Charlie, and a dog, River.

MICHAEL LIPITZ

LUKE YAKLICH

FARRAH

ANDREW EDSON

FLAMES FIRE UP THE VALLEY

The UIC department of intercollegiate athletics announced on Jan. 26, 2022 that it had accepted an invitation to join the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), effective July 1, 2022

The Flames became the MVC’s 12th member institution, entering the conference for the 2022-23 academic year alongside fellow newcomers Belmont University and Murray State University. The league’s existing membership includes a trio of Illinois schools in Bradley University, Illinois State University, and Southern Illinois University Carbondale, along with Drake University, University of Evansville, Indiana State University, Missouri State University, University of Northern Iowa, and Valparaiso University.

Since earning Division I status in 1981, UIC has amassed 75 conference championships and made 47 NCAA postseason appearances. In addition, 20 Flames have achieved All-America status, 82 have earned recognition as Player of the Year, and 55 coaches have been honored as Coach of the Year. Over the last five seasons, UIC men’s soccer, baseball, women’s tennis, softball, and volleyball have all won conference titles, and four of the five programs have collected multiple championships and postseason bids. In 2020-21, the Flames were crowned the Horizon League’s Women’s All-Sport champions on the strength of conference titles in tennis and softball, as well as runner-up finishes in swimming and diving and volleyball.

UIC’s 300 student-athletes compete at an elite level in the classroom as well. The Flames recorded the best academic year in school history in 2020-21 with a 3.43 overall grade-point average (GPA). All 18 teams and nearly half of the department’s student-athletes earned Dean’s List recognition in spring 2021 by achieving a 3.5+ GPA. UIC also achieved an all-time best 91% Graduation Success Rate (GSR) this past year.

Like its athletics program, UIC is an institution on the rise. Offering 100 bachelor’s degree programs across 16 top-ranked colleges, UIC is Chicago’s largest university and the city’s only public Carnegie Research I institution. With more than 34,000 students and 300,000 living alumni, UIC

has recently been ranked a top-25 public university by the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education. In addition, UIC has been recognized as a top-30 university for ethnic diversity and a top-10 university for social mobility by U.S. News & World Report.

The Missouri Valley Conference, founded in 1907, is a strong national brand with a rich tradition of success. The value of MVC membership is enhanced by robust media rights agreements with ESPN and CBS, as well as its sponsorship and multimedia rights partnership with Learfield.

Historically, Missouri Valley Conference members have won 15 national championships in the sports of men’s basketball, baseball, cross country, and golf, while Southern Illinois also won an FCS football title in 1983. The conference boasts 73 individual national champions, as well as 17 additional nonNCAA collegiate titles. In 2021, multiple schools from The Valley received bids to the NCAA Tournaments in the sports of men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball, and softball, making it one of only eight conferences nationwide to do so.

The MVC is headquartered in St. Louis, a city that has hosted The State Farm MVC Men’s Basketball Championship (known as Arch Madness) for more than 30 consecutive years. In its 115th year overall, The Valley sponsors 17 sports: men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field, men’s and women’s golf, women’s tennis, softball, and baseball.

The Valley is UIC’s third conference affiliation since becoming a member of NCAA Division I in 1981. Its first conference tie-in came in 1982, when it joined the Association of Mid-Continent Universities (AMCU-8). The AMCU-8 rebranded to the MidContinent Conference (Mid-Con) in 1990. In 1994, the Flames exited the Mid-Con for the Midwestern Collegiate Conference (MCC). That group reorganized as the Horizon League in 2001.

CREDIT UNION 1 COURT UPDATE

Prior to the start of the 2022-23 season, the court at Credit Union 1 Arena was renovated. The new court now prominently features the Missouri Valley Conference logo inside the paint at each end of the court, the script Flames logo under each basket, four stars along each baseline representing the four stars on the City of Chicago flag, and the UIC logo at midcourt.

About Credit Union 1 Arena Located on the northwestern corner of the UIC East campus, Credit Union 1 Arena is a multi-purpose arena that hosts events for UIC and other promoters and groups. The building serves to bring students and faculty together for exciting sports, concerts, gatherings and events.

SPARKY

Born from the embers of the Great Chicago Fire, Sparky is no ordinary dragon.

As UIC’s proudest ambassador, he uses his immense powers only for good and puts a smile on everyone’s face while competing for victories in and out of competition. A true Chicagoan at heart, Sparky is all about grit, hard work, and rising to meet the challenge even when the odds seem stacked against him. Although relatively young for a dragon, he is wise beyond his years, and focused on continual growth and success, just like his beloved UIC Flames.

Sparky is vibrant, loyal, confident and dependable. He is engaging, playful and bursting with energy. The spirited grin Sparky maintains represents friendliness, determination and a winning attitude. He welcomes all to UIC and helps create a fun and boisterous environment for the Flames.

Sparky was born from a collaboration between UIC Athletics and the Chicago Mascot Company, a family-owned local business with more than 50 years of experience. Business development specialist Barry Anderson worked with the Chicago Bulls for 12 seasons and helped make the franchise’s Benny The Bull mascot among the most popular in all of sports. His creative team used feedback from dozens of interviews with students, staff, alumni and other UIC stakeholders to design and produce Sparky.

With his Fire Engine Red fur, Navy Pier Blue head spikes, and a Champions Gold flame on the tip of his tail, Sparky fully embodies the UIC Flames spirit. His number ‘0’ jersey pays homage to our roots as the Chicago Circle campus. Chicago Blue accents and custom sneakers featuring UIC’s unique perspective of Chicago’s iconic skyline firmly ground Sparky in his hometown. Beyond his refreshed appearance, Sparky’s suit provides for increased mobility to enhance his performances and engagement with fans.

THE EVOLUTION OF SPARKY

Sparky D. Dragon (1990s to 2020):

Sparky D. Dragon is the beloved patriarch of UIC’s family of mascots. A creation of longtime athletics’ staff member Bill Bavirsha, he made his debut in the mid-90s and remained a lovable fixture at Flames events until his retirement following the 2019-20 academic year.

Sparky Junior (2014 to 2020)

Sparky Junior was developed in 2014 as a student companion to Sparky D. Dragon. Equally engaging and entertaining, he was a staple of UIC events for seven memorable years.

Sparky (2021 to Present)

Sparky was introduced in January 2021. Born from the embers of the Great Chicago Fire, his Fire Engine Red fur, Navy Pier Blue head spikes, Champions Gold tail flame, Chicago Blue accents and custom skyline sneakers fully embody the spirit, passion and grit of the UIC Flames and his hometown of Chicago.

Making FLAMES ATHLETIC FUND

The Flames Athletic Fund is the official fundraising arm for our 300 student-athletes across 18 sports, providing critical resources for the UIC Department of Intercollegiate Athletics to operate and extend a holistic student-athlete experience. While unrestricted philanthropic gifts to the Flames Athletic Fund are the most impactful on an annual basis due to the flexibility, they provide the department and its leadership, gifts can also be made directly to a specific sport or the general scholarship fund. All gifts are used to enhance the student-athlete experience by enhancing five major initiatives for Intercollegiate Athletics:

When you donate to the FAF, your contribution supports everything a student-athlete needs to be successful as a Flame. More than 60% of the cost is an investment in scholarships that includes tuition, room, and board. Each scholarship also helps to cover travel costs, strength & conditioning, sports medicine, nutrition, and F.L.A.M.E.S Leadership Institute. These opportunities would not be possible without fans like you helping to build the team behind the team

Sports Programs Premium

Be

to FLAMES ATHLETIC FUND LETTERWINNERS & YOUNG ALUMNI RED FLAME WHITE FLAME BLUE FLAME VARSITY CHAMPIONS HALL OF FAME PLATINUM FLAME $50 $100-$249 $250-$499 $500-$999 $1,000$2,499 $2,500-$4,999 $5,000$9,999 $10,000+ Support the Experience of 300 Flames Student-Athletes X X X X X X X X FAF Annual Membership Gift X X X X X X X X Postseason & Away Ticket Priority X X X X X X X X Online Recognition & Exclusive AD Communications X X X X X X X X Men’s Basketball Courtside Club Hospitality Access* X X X X X X X X Team Store Merchandise Discounts & Pre-Sale Offers X X X X X X X X In-Season Head Coach Update X X X X X X X X Discounted Specialty Parking Access for Home Games* X X X X X X X Courtside Seat Access* - minimum 2 seats X X X X X X Video Board Recognition at Home Sporting Events X X X X X Night to Ignite Invitation X X X X Behind the Scences Gameday Experience or Private Practice with a Team of Choice** X X X Personal Visit with Athletic Director X X Opportunity to travel with a UIC team to an away contest X *must have season tickets **based on availability and scheduling

FAF General Unrestricted Account or one of our FLAMES ATHLETIC FUND - ANNUAL GIVING LEVELS AND BENEFITS