INDIANAPOLIS – IUPUI women's basketball cruised in their final non-conference game of the season with a 72-42 win over Eastern Kentucky on Friday (Dec. 20). The Jags were led by Macee Williams who posted her sixth double-double of the season.

Williams led IUPUI (6-5) with a season-high 22 points and tied her season-high with 15 rebounds, including eight on the offensive end. It was the second-straight double-double for the junior and the third in her last four games. Williams was extremely efficient on the day, shooting 9-for-13 from the field, hitting all three of her free throws and hitting her first three pointer of the season.

Both Holly Hoopingarner and Rachel McLimore joined Williams in double-figures with 13 points apiece. Hoopingarner did most of her damage from the outside, going 3-for-5 from long range to lead IUPUI from beyond the arc.
IUPUI's defense had one of its best games of the season, forcing Eastern Kentucky (6-5) to shoot a season-low 28.6 percent from the field and held the Colonels to just 42 points. The 42 points were the fewest the Jags have given up this season and the second-fewest EKU had scored all year. Eastern Kentucky was led by Samari Mowbray, who finished with 10 points. The starters for the Colonels were held to just 12 points for the game on 5-for-29 shooting.

"I was really proud of our ladies' mindset," said head coach Austin Parkinson. "They did a great job. We defended really well the last two games and today we were pretty good offensively. We got the ball inside and Macee played well. I have been really proud of our defense the last two games."

IUPUI dominated the Colonels inside, winning the points in the paint battle 38-16 and the rebound battle 46-28. The Jags pulled down 15 offensive rebounds, which led to a 15-6 advantage in second chance points.

The Jaguars took control of the game right from the tip, scoring the first eight points of the game and never trailing on route to the win. Four different Jaguars made a basket before EKU scored for the first time with 5:35 left in the first quarter. That bucket was answered by a jumper and a three by Hoopingarner to put IUPUI up 13-2. A layup by Williams and a three from Natalie Andersen gave IUPUI its largest lead of the first quarter at 14. Sydney Roule got in to the action with a three right before the first quarter buzzer to put the Jags up 23-11 after the first 10 minutes.

In the second, Eastern Kentucky got the score back to within five before Williams took over, scoring six-straight points and a basket by Agatha Beier capped an 8-0 run. Taking the eight point lead in to halftime was a good sign for the Jags as IUPUI entered the game 5-0 when leading after the first 20 minutes.

Katelyn O'Reilly started the second half with four-straight points and Hoopingarner hit another three to increase IUPUI's lead to 15 before EKU scored for the first time in the second. McLimore then went on her own 6-0 run of layups, putting the Jags up 46-27. Hoopingarner's third three of the game gave IUPUI its first 20-point lead with 4:40 left in the quarter.

After four-straight EKU points to start the fourth, Williams again took over with a fastbreak layup and her first three of the season. After an offensive rebound, Williams earned a three-point play to put IUPUI up 62-39. The Jags ended the game on an 8-0 run with two layups by Morgan Allen and a jumper and three by Ali Berg for the final margin.

UP NEXT
IUPUI will begin conference play on the road with a trip to Youngstown State (Dec. 28) and Cleveland State (Dec. 30). The Jags first home Horizon League matchup will be Jan. 2 against Oakland, the start of a four-game homestand.