IUPUI (7-3) vs. Belmont (8-2) 
Friday (Dec. 18), 7 p.m. 
The Jungle – Indianapolis, Ind.
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IUPUI (7-3) vs. Georgia Tech (7-3)
Sunday (Dec. 20), 2 p.m.
The Jungle – Indianapolis, Ind.
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Live Stats


INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI women's basketball team welcomes a pair of quality opponents to The Jungle this weekend. The Jags will host Belmont (8-2) in a Friday night (Dec. 18) contest at 7 p.m. before sharing the court with Georgia Tech (7-3) in a Sunday (Dec. 20) matinee at 2 p.m for Santa Jaws Night. Fans can celebrate the holidays with Santa Jaws (IUPUI mascot). The first 250 fans in attendance will receive a free holiday ornament. 

IUPUI is 4-0 at home in 2015-16. The Jags have won 14 of their last 15 games inside The Jungle in the last calendar year, dating back to mid-December of 2014. 

IUPUI has lost two of the last three following a six-game win streak in late November. The Jags have seen three of their last four games go down to the wire after letting leads slip away in the midst of their tough non-conference schedule. 

IUPUI squandered double-digit second half leads against Stephen F. Austin (W, 62-55 OT), North Texas (L, 67-68) and most recently Louisville (L, 61-70), but the trend has really been the Jags' hot starts. IUPUI shot the lights out against SIU Edwardsville in the first half jumping out to a 24-point halftime edge. The Jags were outscored in the third and fourth stanzas but their hot shooting was enough to coast by SIUE. 

Against Louisville, IUPUI was clicking early and jumped ahead on the ACC opponent by double-digits at the half. The Cards, a former No. 3 seed in last year's NCAA women's tourney, rallied and stole the lead from IUPUI with just over five left to play. 

This coming weekend, IUPUI will try to get back to their winning ways by challenging a pair of opponents with similar records. Belmont enters Friday (Dec. 18) with a 8-2 record after Wednesday's (Dec. 16) loss to UT-Chattanooga, 62-53. Their first loss was a 28-point drumming from Ohio State on Nov. 17. Between that game and Wednesday's (Dec. 16) game, the Bruins reeled off a six-game win streak, all by double digits, including a 14-point victory over Wake Forest. 

Georgia Tech enters Sunday (Dec. 20) boasting a 7-3 record. The Yellow Jackets have won every game by double digits but haven't won a close contest yet. Their losses include Georgia, Northern Iowa and Indiana. 

For the Jags, the balanced offense has been one key to their success. Senior Akilah Sims continues to lead the way in scoring with 13.0 per game. Sims raked in Summit League Player of the Week honors on Monday (Dec. 14) for the first time this season and third in her career.

Even with Sims shouldering the load offensively, the Jags have a rare balance of scorers who can fill it up, including 10 players averaging more than 4.0 per game. Sophomore Danielle Lawrence and junior Mikale Rogers are each averaging 10.8 per game to join Sims with double figure averages. After that, a myriad of guards come in averaging multiple buckets per contest.  

Friday's matchup is slated for 7 p.m. while Sunday's game is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 20) is also Santa Jaws Night. Fans can celebrate the holidays with Santa Jaws (IUPUI mascot). The first 250 fans in attendance will receive a free holiday ornament.