CARBONDALE, Ill.  – IUPUI women's basketball battled but came up short in its final non-conference game of the season, losing to Southern Illinois 78-73 in overtime. In a game that featured 12 ties and 19 lead changes, SIU got the last lead change to send the Jags to their third-straight loss.

Macee Williams led the way for IUPUI (6-5) pouring in 20 points and pulling down 10 rebounds for another double-double. Williams was efficient on the offensive end going 9-for-14 from the field as overall the Jags had a strong day from the floor shooting 48.2 percent and had four total players reach double figures. Holly Hoopingarner finished second on the team with 14 points, Sydney Hall added 12, hitting 4-of-9 from deep and Tamya Sims added 10.

The Jags forced overtime after storming back at the end of regulation. Down 66-61 with under a minute left on the clock, Sydney Roule hit a three to pull the Jags within two. As the Jags tried to foul to extend the game, Southern Illinois (7-4) was called for a flagrant foul, giving the Jags two free throws and the ball. Hoopingarner hit one of two freebies and Williams scored a three-point play to put IUPUI up one. After two free throws by SIU, Hall's running layup was blocked to send the game to the extra period.

IUPUI, which lost its first overtime game of the season to Wisconsin, fell behind by two early in the overtime period until Sims hit a three but SIU quickly responded with a layup to get the lead back. After almost three minutes of scoreless ball, SIU's Kristen Nelson hit a three and was fouled by Hall to give the Salukis a five-point lead. Hoopingarner made a layup to pull the Jags within three and a Williams rebound gave the Jags the ball but a shot went off the mark and SIU closed out the game with two more free throws.

Turnovers hampered the Jags as IUPUI finished with a season-high 25, leading to 30 points for the Salukis. IUPUI also struggled to control the 2017-18 Missouri Valley Freshman of the Year Abby Brockmeyer. Brockmeyer scored a game-high 25 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.

The game was a low scoring affair with the score 16-14 in favor of SIU after the first quarter. In the second quarter, Southern Illinois took its largest lead of the game 30-23 with just under two minutes left but IUPUI battled back. A Williams layup was followed by a Hoopingarner three-point play pulled the Jags within two at the break.

After being held to just six points after two quarters, Williams responded with a big second half, scoring 14 points in the second half, including 12 points in the final quarter. The Jags also found themselves down by six late in the fourth before five points from Williams pulled IUPUI within one.

IUPUI will begin conference play in a week on Friday, Dec. 28 when the Jags host the Wright State Raiders at 7 p.m. in the Jungle.