INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI women's basketball team survived Denver in a 81-75 double overtime win on Thursday night (Jan. 28). The Jags battled through a slow start and an early 10-point deficit to stave off the Pioneers in a Homecoming event at The Jungle.

"(Tonight) was just a good momentum builder after losing two straight up in South Dakota," Assistant Coach Janese Banks said. "Our whole team is back and we feel healthy right now. This was just a great redemption game for us after losing two on the road." 

Junior Mikale Rogers put together a career-high 29 points (11-for-23 FG, 7-for-8 FT) to go along with 11 rebounds.

"It's really a confidence-builder that (my teammates) trust me to make plays," Rogers said. "Being able to catch it and score or kick it back to them, just being unselfish, it was a wonderful experience."

Sophomore Danielle Lawrence tallied 24 points (7-for-14 FG, 10-10 FT) and five rebounds. She went 10-for-10 from the free throw line (all in the second half and overtime) in a clutch performance down the stretch.  

The Jags also got six points and nine rebounds from sophomore Jenna Gunn as well as three points and nine rebounds from senior Shaquira Scott. Junior Caitlyn Tolen added four points and seven big rebounds late in the fourth quarter. Senior Nicole Rogers buried two threes for six points in the second period as well. 

It was a slow start for the Jags as the Denver underdogs jumped out to a 13-4 lead six minutes into the first period. IUPUI carefully clawed their way back by the end of the period to a 14-19 deficit. Mikale Rogers scored 10 points in the first quarter alone. 

Nicole Rogers checked in to start the second quarter and immediately knocked in two three-point attempts for a quick six points. She gave IUPUI their first lead of the game at 20-19. IUPUI clung to a small margin on their way to a 35-31 lead at the half. 

Neither team scored in the third quarter until the 7:26 mark when a Denver free throw ended the drought. A series of turnovers led to a pair of Denver scores as the Pioneers retook the lead 36-35. IUPUI was held scoreless for the first 4:57 of the third quarter until a Mikale Rogers' jump hook. The Jags found themselves in a 37-40 hole halfway through the third. 

It was Jenna Gunn and Mikale Rogers who carried the Jags offensively through the rest of the period. Gunn scored four unanswered points and helped carom a pair of loose balls late in the period while Rogers scored four in the quarters as well. IUPUI entered the fourth quarter down just 45-47. 

A pair of back-to-back threes from Denver gave the Pioneers a 58-49 lead before IUPUI reeled off an 8-0 run in the final three minutes. A combination of Mikale Rogers inside and Lawrence getting to the basket spurred the run. A pair of defensive rebounds from Tolen also helped the Jags stifle Denver from any second chance points.

Down 57-59 with under a minute to go, the Jags had to settle in for one more defensive stop. After forcing a three from the corner, Tolen scrapped for a third rebound to give IUPUI possession with 14.1 left in regulation.

On the final possession, Tolen tracked down a rebound after her own miss and found Akilah Sims who drew a foul with just 7.1 seconds left. She hit both free throws for her first points of the game to tie it at 59-all. On the Pioneers' final possession, Mikale Rogers swatted the Denver shot into the band emphatically sending the game to overtime. IUPUI ended regulation on an 11-1 run.  

The Jags took the first lead in overtime but the Pioneers regained control on a four-point play inside two minutes to go. With a 65-67 deficit in the final possession, Lawrence drew a foul with just .6 seconds left on the clock and buried both free throws to force double overtime. It was the Jags' second double overtime game in their last three contests. 

In the second overtime, Mikale Rogers accrued a new career-high in points (29) and Lawrence continued to stay perfect from the free throw line. IUPUI played some well-controlled basketball down the stretch as they finally staved off the Pioneers, 81-75. 

The Jags were an impressive 12-for-14 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter and overtime periods. Lawrence (10-10) and Rogers (7-8) were a big part of that percentage chipping in a combined 17-for-18. 

IUPUI outrebounded Denver by a 51-29 margin, including 25 offensive rebounds that led to 24 second chance points (the most for IUPUI this season). 

"It was a huge emphasis tonight for us to be on the glass and they did a very good job at it," Banks added.

IUPUI will be in action again on Saturday (Jan. 30) as they travel to Tulsa, Okla. to take on Oral Roberts (9-11, 6-2) in a 3:00 p.m. matchup. The Golden Eagles won the previous meeting (Jan. 3) 52-47 in Indianapolis.