MILWAUKEE - The IUPUI women's basketball team clawed its way back from an early deficit to defeat Marquette on the road Monday (Nov. 16) 60-55. The Jags saw multiple career-highs in the comeback rally, including a career-high 23 points from sophomore guard Danielle Lawrence.

"Danielle was awesome today," IUPUI Head Coach Austin Parkinson said. "She made plays when we needed them. I thought she really stepped up for us and just made play after play for us today." 

"More than anything, it started at the defensive end. We did a good job of getting stops, even if we didn't always capitalize on them. We got off to a really bad start and I think it was because we were kind of shell shocked. There were (3,000) screaming kids out there and it kind of rattled us. I thought we did a good job of regaining our composure though and just played our game."

Marquette blew out to a quick 13-1 lead, powered by youth - both on the floor and in the stands. MU freshman Natisha Hiedeman scored an old fashioned three-point play at the 8:18 mark of the first quarter, resulting in an eruption from the more than 2,500 Milwaukee Public School students in attendance. The Golden Eagles continued to take advantage of some sloppy IUPUI basketball to build a quick double-digit lead as Hiedeman scored the game's first seven points for the hosts.

After trailing 22-11 at the end of the first quarter, IUPUI settled down and dominated the second stanza. With Akilah Sims saddled to the bench with two personals, Lawrence picked up the slack, scoring nine of the Jaguars' 16 second quarter points. IUPUI had multiple opportunities to tie or take the lead, but two late turnovers trying to break the Golden Eagles' full-court press helped the hosts maintain a 30-27 lead at the half.

The second half was more of a back-and-forth affair as IUPUI and Marquette traded baskets through much of the third. Lawrence continued her hot night with a big three that cut the Marquette lead to one, 35-34 with 4:30 to play in the third. Sophomore Martha Burse had a strong take to the hole on the following possession, giving the Jags their first lead of the game, 36-35 with just under four minutes to play in the third. 

Marquette took back the lead by the end of the period, extending the score to 44-40 heading to the fourth quarter. 

In the fourth, it was Lawrence again who notched a field goal to bring it within two, then followed it with another triple to take back the lead for IUPUI, 45-44 with under five minutes to play. 

A couple trips to the free-throw line were big for IUPUI down the stretch as Lawrence and Mikale Rogers dropped in two free throws apiece from the charity stripe and extended the lead to 50-46 with 1:51 remaining in the fourth. 

Another bucket by Rogers sealed it for the Jags after they jumped to a 52-46 edge with a minute to play before closing out the Golden Eagles 60-55. 

Lawrence tallied a game-high and career-high 23 points on 7-11 shooting, including nine points in the second quarter helping the Jags climb back from a double-digit deficit. She was 2-3 from long distance and 7-10 from the free-throw line.

Natisha Hiedeman was the high scorer for Marquette, claiming 21 points including 3-of-6 on three-pointers. 

Burse added 12 points and five rebounds for the Jags while sophomore Jenna Gunn went for eight points and five boards of her own. It was Rogers and junior Kelsi Byrd who dominated the glass in the matinee, though. Rogers pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds to complement nine points, two blocks and two steals. Byrd snatched a career-high eight rebounds for herself.

"I thought we did a good job of limiting second shot opportunities," Parkinson said. "Mikale dominated inside defensively and on the glass. This was a big game for her and she stepped it up."  

IUPUI will return home to host VCU on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. inside The Jungle in a game that will be seen on IUPUIJags.com as Scott Agness (pxp) calls the action from courtside. Tickets are available by contacting the IUPUI Athletics office or will be on sale at The Jungle one hour before tip-off.