DENTON, Texas – The IUPUI women's basketball team gutted out a huge 62-55 overtime win over Stephen F. Austin on Friday (Dec. 4) in Denton, Texas at the Hospitality Hills Challenge. The Jags jumped out to a 15-point halftime lead (31-16) before the Ladyjacks turned the tables, taking a seven point lead in the fourth quarter. IUPUI rallied to send it to overtime and ultimately steal the game, outscoring Stephen F. Austin 19-5 in the game's final 7:28.
"Today we learned a lot about our ability to deal with adversity," Head Coach
Austin Parkinson said. "After giving up the big lead and getting behind, our kids dug down and made plays to win this game."
The win was IUPUI's sixth straight victory as they improve to 6-1 on the year. Stephen F. Austin falls to 4-3.
Eight Jags scored in the first half of play, including a trio of six-point, two-rebound halves from
Mikale Rogers,
Jenna Gunn and
Kelsi Byrd. IUPUI stifled SFA's Taylor Ross in the first half, holding the Ladyjacks' leading scorer (22.3 per game) to just two points as the Jags cruised to a 31-16 halftime advantage.
A huge second half helped Stephen F. Austin take a 50-43 lead after a 34-12 run, but the Jags scored seven unanswered in the final 2:38, including the game-tying bucket from sophomore
Danielle Lawrence, to send things to overtime at 50-all.
Holding Stephen F. Austin to 50 points through regulation was a solid defensive effort given the scoring capabilities of the Ladyjacks' backcourt, but the Jags scored just 19 second half points.
In OT, Lawrence took over and scored eight of IUPUI's 12 points in the extra session. She finished with 15 points total.
"Danielle really stepped up at the end of regulation and overtime being assertive on offense," Parkinson added.
Rogers added a bucket from a
Martha Burse assist as well as a free throw in the overtime period. She (Rogers) scored 15 points as well to go along with four rebounds, four steals and three blocks as the Ladyjacks didn't have an answer for the post player inside.
Burse was big again as the sophomore guard netted eight points, six assists and three boards. Gunn and Byrd each added six points and four rebounds while
Akilah Sims,
Sara Ross and
Shaquira Scott added four apiece.
SFA's Taylor Ross finished with a season-low 10 points. The Ladyjacks' three guards, who averaged nearly 40 a game, were held to just 26 points on a combined 11-of-32 shooting in the contest.
"I like the fact that our kids are establishing an identity on the defensive end which is key going forward," Parkinson said.
IUPUI will be in action again tomorrow (Dec. 5) at 3:30 p.m. for game two of the Hospitality Hills Challenge with the hosts, North Texas.
