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INDIANAPOLIS – A substantial victory in a crucial matchup, the IUPUI women's basketball team (13-6, 3-3) overcame a dry second half against Oral Roberts (10-9, 2-4) Thursday night (Jan. 19), topping the Golden Eagles 53-41.  The win pushes IUPUI back to .500 in Summit League play, while extending Oral Roberts' losing streak to four games. 
 
On the evening, IUPUI shot 17-for-51 (.333) and 10-for-24 (.417) from three-point range.  The Jags held Oral Roberts to 16-for-46 (.348) from the field and forced 16 turnovers.  The Golden Eagles outrebounded the Jags 34-32. 
 
Danielle Lawrence was absolutely stellar in the first half, as the junior guard finished with 29 points in the game, just five shy of tying her career high.  Holly Hoopingarner finished in double figures with 10 points, while Mikale Rogers had a thunderous five blocks with six points.  Caitlyn Tolen and Sydney Hall also scored for the Jags.
 
Lawrence teed up a Rogers' pass and clubbed it for a three-point shot to open up the scoring for IUPUI exactly a minute into the game.  It took roughly three minutes before Rogers found Tolen open beyond the arc, who knocked it down for another triple.  After a bucket from ORU, Lawrence emerged from a media timeout with another three-point shot, claiming a one-point edge for her team.  After a pair of possessions, Hall found Rogers in the paint, who worked to her left and knocked down a hook shot.  Heading into the final minute, the Golden Eagles were able to secure seven-straight points, forcing IUPUI into a timeout.  The Jags were able to make good use of the pause in the action, as Hoopingarner worked to the right of the basket, netting a layup just before the buzzer.  At the end of the first, the Jags trailed 13-15.  The Jags shot just 5-for-15 (.333) from the field, but went 3-for-4 from long-range.  IUPUI committed four turnovers in the first quarter, but forced six on the other side. 
 
After an unfortunate turnover that went the other way for a basket, the Jags went to Rogers down low, who backed her way to the rim and connected on a layup.  Next trip down, Lawrence scurried to the left-side corner and made good on a three-point shot, giving the Jags a one-point lead.  They'd briefly surrender the lead, but Lawrence would hit a running jumper just 20 seconds later to put IUPUI back on top.  Empty trips gave ORU a chance to reclaim the lead, but it was quickly wiped away on a triple from Hall at the top of the key, tying the game 23-23.  After a timeout, Lawrence dished a smooth three-point shot on a step to her left, utilizing a screen to create an opening.  Hoopingarner checked into the game and knocked down a right corner three-pointer, as the Jags held their largest lead of the game.  The next offensive possession, Lawrence showed finesse in the paint, dropping in a touch shot for the layup.  Potentially the biggest play of the game to that point, Rogers absolutely stuffed a shot from Oral Roberts with an emphatic block, then took it the other way for a break-away layup.  Lawrence would net another three-pointer, as the Jags took a 36-25 lead into the halftime break.  IUPUI shot 9-for-15 in the second quarter (.600), including 5-for-9 from three-point range.  Lawrence ended the half with a game-high 19 points.  The Jags forced 11 turnovers by Oral Roberts, while surrendering just six of their own.  The Eagles won the first half rebound battle, 13-17.  IUPUI outscored ORU 23-10 in the quarter.
 
Lawrence hit a free-throw to start the second half, but three minutes of scoreless basketball marred the next three minutes.  Lawrence ended the drought with a three-pointer off a Rogers' screen, pushing the score to 40-30.  A pair of possessions later, Hoopingarner hit from the right corner on a three-point shot that went in, out, then back in.  After a timeout, Lawrence netted a pair of free-throws, then hit on another at the charity stripe nearly two and a half minutes later.  The period ended with IUPUI holding a 46-34 lead.  It was just a 10-9 quarter in favor of IUPUI, as neither team shot particularly efficient.  The Jags went 2-for-11 (.182) from the field, while the Eagles were 3-for-9 (.333). 
 
It took nearly three minutes, but Lawrence was able to drop in a free-throw to finally put the Jags on the scoreboard in the final quarter.  She added a hard-fought layup at the five-minute mark following an IUPUI timeout, pushing the score to 49-36.  The dry shooting continued for both teams, until Hoopingarner added a pair of free-throws with less than a minute and a half to play.  Tolen knocked down two free-throws and IUPUI's defense held strong, as the game ended with the score 53-41.
 
With the win, the Jags will now turn their focus to Saturday (Jan. 21) in quick turnaround matchup with North Dakota State at 7 p.m. EST in the Jungle.  The night will mark "Everyone is an IUPUI Student" night, as any person attending the game wearing IUPUI gear will receive free admission to the contest. 
 
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