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TULSA, Okla. – An upsetting end to what had been an impressive run, the IUPUI women's basketball team (17-7, 7-4) saw their six-game winning streak snapped by Oral Roberts (13-11, 5-6) Saturday afternoon (Feb. 4), falling 45-54.  ORU commanded a 16-5 fourth quarter, ultimately dooming IUPUI late.
 
"Today was a tough loss because we defended well enough to win, but offensively we played too much 1-on-1," Head Coach Austin Parkinson said.  "In a physical basketball game, we shot eight free-throws to their 20.  You have to give them credit because they were the aggressor."
 
IUPUI shot just 18-of-54 (.333) from the field, and 4-for-13 (.308) from three-point range.  Turnovers hurt the Jags in critical moments, as IUPUI committed 17 for the game.  Danielle Lawrence led the team with 19 points, fouling out late in the game.  Mikale Rogers picked up her fourth double-double of the season with 13 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks.  The Jags were outscored in three out of four quarters.
 
"Our League is really good this year and we will have to refocus to bounce back on our next road trip," Coach Parkinson added.
 
Jenna Gunn made a highlight reel play to start the game, picking off a pass and running it the length of the floor to get the scoring started for IUPUI.  After picking up her first block on the defensive side, Rogers got the ball on the other end of the floor, winning a one-on-one matchup and dropping in a layup.  The teams combined to go just 3-for-14 to begin the game, as both teams had a rough start heading into the first media timeout.  A layup and a three-pointer for Oral Roberts marked a 7-0 run for the Golden Eagles, but Lawrence ended the stretch with a three-pointer of her own to tie the game.  Turnovers marred the first quarter for both teams, as they finished the frame with six turnovers each.  At the end of the first, IUPUI trailed 7-9.
 
A minute into the new quarter, Lawrence picked up an offensive board, then returned it to the iron on a put-back to tie the game.  Sydney Hall picked up a defensive board, then got the offense going in transition as Gunn found Lawrence beyond the arc for a three-pointer.  Lawrence later picked off a pass, then ran it the length of the floor for the layup.  The hoop marked a personal seven-point run for Lawrence, as the Jags forced an Oral Roberts' timeout, up 14-9.  After a lengthy break due to an official's review, Rogers converted a jump shot near the rim, reclaiming a five-point edge for IUPUI.  She'd pull down a defensive board, then convert on the other side again for her second bucket in as many tries.  Caitlyn Tolen put up her first points of the game on a triple at the 4:20 mark in the quarter, receiving a setup from Lawrence.  After an Oral Roberts' timeout, Rogers pulled in a missed shot, then sent it back for her eighth point of the game.  With just over a minute remaining, Gunn picked up a layup on a pass from Rogers after a Golden Eagles' turnover, as IUPUI led 25-19.  The Eagles would strike with just seconds remaining, as the Jags headed to the locker room with a four-point lead.  IUPUI went 11-for-31 (.355) from the field in the first half, as Lawrence led the Jags with 10 points.  Rogers added eight, while also adding seven rebounds and three blocks.
 
A 2-9 run by Oral Roberts erased the Jags first half progress, as IUPUI saw itself trailing midway through the third quarter.  After a defensive board by Rogers, Lawrence fought through contact on the other end and dropped in a layup.  After a media timeout, Lawrence would net the free-throw, tying the game at 30 on the Jags first free-throw of the game.  After getting into the bonus, Lawrence attacked the rim, once again drawing the contact and earning a trip to the free-throw line.  She'd make both shots.  Following a Kelsi Byrd steal, she'd throw it ahead to a surging Lawrence, who dropped it in for a layup, increasing her point total to 19.  Byrd ripped the nylon on her first triple on a pass from Lawrence, followed by a backdoor pass from Tolen to Gunn on a layup.  Rogers swatted her fourth block of the game, which preceded a Hall free-throw as IUPUI went up 40-38.  Oral Roberts won the quarter 15-17, as the Jags saw their lead shrink to just a pair.
 
Rogers made a jump shot a minute into the final quarter, answering an Oral Roberts' bucket and reclaiming a lead for IUPUI.  An 8-0 run by Oral Roberts forced the Jags to play catch-up however, as they saw themselves pitted to their biggest deficit.  The team began to implode, committing four turnovers and shooting just 1-for-8 to start the quarter.  With 1:45 to play, Rogers hit a layup on a steal and assist by Lawrence, breaking up the stagnant spell.  Rogers was fouled on the play, converting the and-one.  Lawrence picked up her fifth foul with just under a minute to play, fouling out of the game.  Going down by five points, the Jags had to play the foul game with time running away, but it simply wasn't enough.  The Jags lost 45-54.
 
With the loss, the Jags will look to right the ship Wednesday (Feb. 8) in Denver, Colorado, as the Jags will face the Denver Pioneers at 8 p.m. EST, one of just two remaining road games for the regular season.
 
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