Preview: Illinois State at Illinois-Chicago Women’s Basketball

CHICAGO (Interstat) — A Missouri Valley Conference rematch awaits Thursday when the Illinois State Redbirds visit the Illinois-Chicago Flames at UIC Pavilion.

Illinois State (9-8, 3-1 MVC) won the first meeting 75-61 in Normal on Jan. 8 and enters on a three-game winning streak. The Redbirds are coming off a 93-74 home victory over Valparaiso where Doneelah Washington scored 29 points in just 21 minutes.

Washington has been dominant, averaging 24.5 points over her last six games. That stretch includes a 23-point, 16-rebound performance in a loss at Belmont on Jan. 4.

Illinois-Chicago (8-10, 2-3) looks to rebound from a 63-58 loss at Southern Illinois last Sunday. The Flames have followed a pattern of wins and losses over their last five contests.

Guard Jessica Carrothers leads UIC, averaging 21.7 points over her last six games. She scored 20 points in the first matchup against Illinois State and is coming off a 22-point effort at Southern Illinois.

The Redbirds’ recent surge has been fueled by offense, scoring 82 or more points in three straight wins. Alongside Washington, Trista Fayta (14 points, 10 assists vs. Valparaiso) and Addison Martin provide supplementary scoring.

UIC, which had a three-game home winning streak snapped by Northern Iowa on Dec. 31, will rely on Carrothers and Julia Coleman, who added 16 points in the loss to Southern Illinois.

The Flames’ defense, which held Evansville to 48 points in a win on Jan. 16, will be tested by a hot-shooting Redbirds squad. Illinois State has won four of its last six overall.

Thursday’s contest is the only scheduled meeting in Chicago this season between the in-state conference foes. Following this game, Illinois State visits Indiana State on Sunday, while Illinois-Chicago travels to Bradley.

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CST at UIC Pavilion.