VALPARAISO, Ind. (Interstat) — The Valparaiso Beacons, still in search of their first win, will host the Illinois-Chicago Flames in a Missouri Valley Conference women’s basketball matchup on Sunday at the Athletics-Recreation Center. Valparaiso (0-8) enters on an eight-game skid but is coming off its most competitive offensive performance in a 55-87 loss at Saint Bonaventure on Nov. 29. Freshman guard Kylie Waytashek led the way in that contest, scoring a season-high 18 points with six rebounds in 19 minutes. She will be a focal point for a Beacons squad averaging just 52.4 points per game. Illinois-Chicago (4-5) looks to rebound after a narrow 70-72 road loss at Ohio on Friday. The Flames have shown resilience this season, securing wins over Maine and Ball State during a multi-team event and beating conference foe Loyola Chicago 68-54 on Nov. 22. Their season has been marked by inconsistency, however, with losses by double digits to Indiana, Wisconsin and Robert Morris. This game opens the conference slate for both teams and presents a stark contrast in early-season trajectories. The Flames will aim to exploit their advantage in experience and record, while the Beacons desperately seek a spark to turn their season around. Valparaiso has lost its games by an average margin of 24.5 points. The series history and location favor the home team, but Valparaiso’s struggles to score consistently and defend—allowing 78.1 points per game—will be tested by a UIC team eager to get above .500. Tip-off is set for Sunday afternoon in Valparaiso.