INDIANAPOLIS – Sophomore Danielle Lawrence, reigning Summit League Player of the Week, improved on her 23.5 points per game last week with a career-high 34-point performance in a 96-87 win against Western Illinois on Saturday (Feb. 6). Donning the new pink jerseys on Saturday afternoon, the Jags controlled most of the game aside from a 10-0 run by Western Illinois in the third quarter as IUPUI's top three scorers combined for 75 of the team's 96 points. 

Lawrence's 34 points came while 13-for-17 (76.5 percent) from the floor and 6-for-8 from the three-point line. She also tallied six assists and five rebounds to finish out an incredible day on the stat sheet. 

"I think it's my teammates pushing me," Lawrence said. "I tried to rebound and play some good defense to get myself going. I was feeling it and, especially in transition, just had some opportunities to knock down some shots and get to the rim." 

Senior Akilah Sims and junior Mikale Rogers were big for the Jags as well. Sims added 23 points (9-for-13) and six rebounds while Rogers added 18 points and four boards. It was the first time Sims scored in double figures since a lingering injury that occurred at the beginning of conference play. Rogers was the beneficiary of another patient fourth quarter offense where the Jags took their time and worked the ball inside.

A defensive-focused team, the Jags were somewhat lured into Western Illinois' fast-paced style, but they adjusted nicely. 

"We tried to throw a couple different defenses at them," Assistant Coach Janese Banks said. "We just tried to trip them up a little and get them out of their rhythm. They were shooting the ball really well and they're a good basketball team. We just had to throw a couple different wrinkles at them and get them uncomfortable."

The Jags connected on their first four possessions of the game and jumped out to an 8-2 lead just a few minutes in. Western Illinois answered and quickly put IUPUI down 13-10 before Lawrence took over to end the period, contributing 10 first quarter points en route to a 28-23 IUPUI advantage. 

The second quarter was more of the same as Lawrence poured in another 11 points and finished the half with 21 points on 8-for-9 shooting, including 3-for-3 from the 3-point line. Sims was big in the second quarter as well adding eight points and a first-half totaling 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting. Together, Sims and Lawrence combined for 35 first-half points and missed a combined three shots as the Jags held a 49-43 advantage at the break. 

Sophomore Martha Burse played a big role in running the fast break in the first half as well. The speedy backup point guard scored four points and threw three assists in a fast-paced transition offense in the first half. She finished with six points, four assists and four rebounds..

Mikale Rogers opened the second-half scoring for the Jags as the junior center added a quick six points on back-to-back three-point plays. After a 57-52 edge for IUPUI, Western Illinois reeled off a 10-0 run, leaving the Jags playing catch up for the remainder of the third quarter. A pair of threes from Sims and Lawrence helped the Jags regain the lead before a Martha Burse layup at the third quarter horn gave IUPUI a 75-71 advantage. 

In the fourth, Lawrence turned the switch back on as she knocked down two more threes in the opening minutes to break the 30-point mark. Lawrence was the first Jaguar to score 30 or more points in a game since Akilah Sims did it two years ago against Oral Roberts (Feb. 21, 2014). Lawrence hit 12 of her first 13 attempts through three quarters and change. She also hit her first six three-point attempts. 

After clinging to a single-digit lead throughout the fourth, a steady dose of Mikale Rogers inside aided the Jags to the 96-87 win. Rogers scored 10 points in the final quarter, all of which came from inside the paint and late in the shot clock. 

Junior Kelsi Byrd added eight points and four assists in the contest, including two big threes. Sophomore Jenna Gunn also added six points and a ferocious effort on the boards with seven rebounds.

IUPUI shot 53.6 percent from the floor and 55.7 percent from the 3-point line in the game. They were hot from the free-throw line again too, making 14-of-15 (93.3 percent). The Jags also outrebounded Western Illinois 37-26 while throwing 23 assists to Western Illinois' 11.  

IUPUI will leave the 317 for a three-game road trip spanning the next two weeks. The Jags will take on North Dakota State (Feb. 12) and Denver (Feb. 14) next weekend before a third road game with Omaha (Feb. 18) before returning home. Next Friday's game with North Dakota State will tip at 8 p.m. ET in Fargo, N.D.