CORAL GABLES, Fla. – IUPUI battled but came up just short of an upset bid over No. 17/19 Miami on Sunday (Nov. 17), falling to the Hurricanes 74-65. The Jags were led by Macee Williams, who finished with 17 points.

IUPUI (2-1) had Miami (3-0) on the ropes with the Jags holding a three-point advantage going in to the final quarter. The Jags held a one-point lead after a three by Natalie Andersen with 6:38 left in the game before Miami took control and shut the door on the upset bid.

"I thought our ladies showed tremendous fight on the road against a Top-25 program," said head coach Austin Parkinson. "If we can do a better job of taking care of the ball, this team has a chance to be really good."

Turnovers were an issue for the Jags as after IUPUI cut Miami's lead to one on a Williams layup, four of the next five Jaguar possessions ended in turnovers. The Hurricanes used a 12-0 run over a four minute stretch in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach for the Jags. In total, the Jags finished with 23 turnovers for the game.

Williams, who finished with only five points against Southern Illinois, bounced back to score a team-high 17, going 7-for-11 from the field and hitting all three of her free throws. Andersen poured in a career-high 15 points, hitting three threes to lead IUPUI from beyond the arc. Holly Hoopingarner was the other Jaguar to finish in double-figures with 15 on an efficient 6-for-8 from the field performance.

"I was very encouraged by Macee's play today" said Parkinson. "Also, Natalie competing in her first road game showed what kind of player she can be when she is aggressive."

Down by 12 coming out of the half, IUPUI flipped the switch in the third quarter, outscoring Miami 24-9. The Jags held the Hurricanes scoreless for almost the first three minutes of the third while going on a 9-0 run. Williams started the run with a jumper and then a steal and a layup. After a turnover, Rachel McLimore, who finished with seven points, hit a jumper and a three to pull the Jags within three.

Andersen hit a three to cut the lead to two but Miami responded pushing the lead back up to nine. Williams, who scored 13 of her points in the second half, ended the Hurricane run with a jumper and Hoopingarner hit back-to-back threes to get IUPUI within one. Both teams went scoreless for over the next minute but Hoopingarner hit another jumper, this on inside the arc, to put the Jags on top. McLimore closed out the quarter with a jumper giving the Jags the three-point lead.

IUPUI struggled containing Miami's Endia Banks, who finished with a game-high 23 points. Banks scored 15 points in the first half as Miami built its 12-point lead. Beatrice Mompremier was second on the team with 20 points and after being shutout in the first half, Mykea Gray scored 16 points in the second half, going 7-for-8 from the free throw line.

UP NEXT
IUPUI will return to Indianapolis but will play on the road next Wednesday (Nov. 20) with a cross-town meeting against the Butler Bulldogs.