MARTIN, Tenn. – A slow start doomed IUPUI as the Jags fell to UT Martin 57-71 on Monday (Nov. 25). Freshman Natalie Andersen poured in a career-high 16 points to lead the Jags in the loss.

Down by 16 at the half, IUPUI (2-3) tried to make a furious comeback over UT Martin (2-3) and Andersen and Macee Williams did their best to make it happen. Williams, who finished with 15 points on 7-for-12 shooting, got the first bucket for the Jags in the third and Andersen hit two free throws on the Jags next possession. After a free by Katelyn O'Reilly, IUPUI had cut the UT Martin to 11 less than two minutes in to the half.

Williams scored five of IUPUI's next nine points to pull the Jags within five and Rachel McLimore answered two UT Martin free throws with a layup, keeping the Jaguars down five after three quarters.

 Andersen started the fourth quarter with a three and after a steal by the freshman, Williams finished with a layup to tie the game. Another IUPUI steal, this one by McLimore, led to a layup for McLimore and put IUPUI ahead for the first time in the ball game.

Four-straight points for the Skyhawks put the Jags down again but Williams responded with a layup and Andersen hit another three to put IUPUI up 45-42. The teams then traded threes with Sydney Roule hitting one for the Jags as the score ended up 48-48 with 4:17 left in the contest.

IUPUI was down three when Andersen hit one of two free throws and McLimore hit a jumper to tie the game but UT Martin hit another three with 37 seconds left to go up three. O'Reilly got to the free throw line with 22 seconds on the clock but missed both free throws and the Skyhawks were able to hit three more free throws to ice the game sending IUPUI to its third-straight defeat.

In the loss, Andersen scored a career-high 16, going 4-for-9 from the field and hitting three threes. The freshman also went 5-for-6 from the free throw line and has now scored in double-figures for the third consecutive contest. Both Andersen and Williams scored 11 points in the second half during the comeback.

IUPUI was done in by poor shooting overall, but especially in the first half. The Jags shot just 20 percent (6-for-30) from the field in the first half and went 1-for-13 from behind the arc in the opening 20 minutes. IUPUI finished the game 4-for-26 from the three point line, just 15 percent, after coming in to the game shooting over 40 percent from deep.

Chelsey Perry led UT Martin with 19 points, going 8-for-15 from the floor and hitting three threes, including two in the fourth quarter as the Jags were trying to gain momentum.  

IUPUI struggled out of the gate, falling behind 6-0 and after pulling within two after Morgan Allen layup, UT Martin scored eight-straight points to close the first quarter and take a 16-6 lead. Things got worse for IUPUI in the second, falling behind by as many as 13 points halfway through the frame. The Jags were able to cut the lead to ten multiple times including with 1:40 left in the half after free throws by Holly Hoopingarner. The Skyhawks then took advantage of three IUPUI turnovers to close out the half and scored six-straight putting the Jags down by 16 at the break.

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IUPUI will hit the road for its Thanksgiving tournament, heading to Las Vegas. The Jags will take on St. John's on Saturday (Nov. 30) before playing either Elon or the host UNLV Rebels on Sunday (Dec. 1).