Box Score

ROCHESTER, Mich. – Following a slow start offensively, the IUPUI women’s basketball team battled back to take the lead midway through the first half, but a 20-4 run to close the first half by Oakland gave the Golden Grizzlies a double-figure lead that it would not relinquish as Oakland defeated IUPUI, 73-50, Monday evening at the Athletics Center O’rena.

Janna Eichelberger paced the Jaguars in scoring and rebounding with 13 points and nine rebounds, while Malika Glover scored 13 of her game-high 16 points in the first half to lead Oakland.

Defensively, IUPUI (3-12, 1-4 Summit League) held the Summit League’s second-leading scorer, Bethany Watterworth, to 11 points on 4-of-11 shooting in addition to holding Oakland to 18.2 percent shooting (2-of-11) from behind-the-arc.

“I don’t think the final score is really indicative of how the game played out,” said head coach Austin Parkinson. “Our ladies played their tails off tonight and we can take a lot of positives out of this game.”

IUPUI got off to another slow start on the offensive end of the floor, but played tight defense on the Golden Grizzlies to stay close early. Oakland held a 10-3 lead approaching the second media timeout as IUPUI went 1-for-8 from the floor during that stretch, but Kayla Cripe drilled consecutive buckets on back-to-back possessions, including a 3-pointer from the top of the key, to quickly bring the Jaguars within two points, 10-8, with 11:31 to play in the half.

Buckets from Eichelberger and Dawn Luster at 10:05 and 9:33, respectively, capped off a 10-0 run that placed the Jags in front 12-10, the Jaguars first lead of the game.

After another Eichelberger basket kept the IUPUI lead at two points, 14-12, with 8:36 on the clock, six Jags turnovers coupled with 2-of-13 shooting over the final eight and half minutes allowed the Golden Grizzlies to close the half on a 20-4 run as Oakland took a 32-18 lead into the half.

Out of the half, Eichelberger scored IUPUI’s first seven points, but that come over a 9:37 stretch that saw the Golden Grizzlies widen their 14-point halftime lead to 20 points, 45-25.

Trailing by 21 points with 9:44 on the clock, IUPUI used a quick 7-0 run over the next 2:01, which included a 3-pointer by Shakeeta Cotton, to close within 14 points, 49-35, with 7:43 to play.

Down the stretch, however, Oakland connected on some timely buckets while knocking down some free throws and closed out a 73-50 win over the Jaguars as it improved to 11-6 overall and 5-1 in Summit League play.

Coming into the game, IUPUI was averaging over 20 turnovers per game, but for the third game in a row it stayed below the 20 turnover mark with 19 on the night.

“We still have to be better defensively as we failed to challenge some shots, but I really am proud of our overall effort,” Parkinson said

“I like the momentum this gives us going forward. The ladies had a positive attitude and I’m looking forward to this weekend to see if we can carry this performance into those games.”

IUPUI plays its first home game since Dec. 31 when it welcomes South Dakota State to The Jungle for a 4:30 p.m. tip on Saturday, Jan. 15. Saturday’s game is the first game of a men’s and women’s doubleheader, with the men’s team taking on the Jackrabbits at 7 p.m.