ROCHESTER, Mich. – IUPUI women's basketball was pushed to the edge tonight at Oakland but managed to hold off the Golden Grizzlies, winning 76-70 and pushing its winning streak to three games. The Jaguars were led by a season-high 18 points from Tamya Sims.

The Jags (16-9, 10-4 Horizon) found themselves in a tie ballgame with 6:29 left of the clock after a basket by Oakland (5-19, 2-11 Horizon). Macee Williams, who posted a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double, took control over the next two possessions getting an acrobatic three-point play and hitting a jumper to put the Jags up five.

The Golden Grizzlies were not going to go down lightly as Taylor Jones hit a layup that was followed by a Sydney Hall bucket, but another Jones jumper cut the Jags lead back to three. Holly Hoopingarner, who had seven points going in to the final quarter, then got hot for IUPUI hitting a layup and a jumper that pushed the lead back to seven. After a 4-1 run by Oakland cut the lead back to four, Hoopingarner iced the game at the free throw line, hitting four-straight free throws to put the game out of reach.

"Tonight we were fortunate to escape with a win," said head coach Austin Parkinson. "Oakland played very well and made some tough shots. This time of year you just have to find a way to win these types of games."

Sims, who led the Jags, did most of her damage in the first half, scoring 10 points in the first 20 minutes. Hoopingarner finished with 16 points going 8-for-10 from the free throw line. Katelyn O'Reilly scored in double-figures for the 12^th time this season, pouring in 15 points, with 10 coming in the first half.

"I thought our entire front line was terrific offensively," said Parkinson. "Holly stepped up to make some key baskets in the second half."

The game was dominated by both teams inside as IUPUI won the points in the paint battle 42-40 and while the Jags shot 46.6 percent from the field for the game, Oakland shot a blazing 50.9 percent, the highest percentage allowed by the Jags all season.

This was due in part to Oakland shooting 60 percent from the field in the first half as IUPUI managed to hold just a four-point lead at the break. In the first quarter, IUPUI fell behind early by five but used a 13-0 run that included eight points from Sims to jump out to a 21-13 lead.

The Jags pushed the lead to 10 in the second quarter after a layup by O'Reilly and held a three-possession lead for much of the second quarter until the late run by Oakland cut it to 40-36 at the break.
After halftime, Oakland tried to cut in to the Jags lead but could not tie the game early in the third as the Jags answered every basket with a trip to the free throw line, hitting five of their first six attempts in the second half. Two more free throws from Sims pushed IUPUI's lead to seven with 5:42 left in the third. IUPUI maintained the lead until Oakland managed to tie the game at 52 with just over a minute left in the quarter. Williams responded with a layup but a three from Oakland gave the Golden Grizzlies a one-point lead to start the fourth.

QUICK NOTES

• IUPUI finished with four players in double figures for the sixth time this season, improving to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in conference play.
• The Jags are 3-0 on Thursdays this season with all three wins coming in Horizon League play.
• IUPUI allowed Oakland's Taylor Jones to score 28 points, the second most points scored by a player against IUPUI
• The last six home games for IUPUI have been decided by at least 20 points, IUPUI's last five road games have all been decided by six points or fewer.
• IUPUI allowed an opponent to hit at least 50 percent from the field for the first time since Milwaukee hit 51.9 percent on Feb. 19, 2018.
• IUPUI hit 20 free throws on 26 attempts. The last time the Jags hit 20 free throws was in the first matchup against Oakland when the Jags hit 27 free throws on Jan. 13.
• The Jags went 2-17 (11.8 percent) from the three point line, tied for the fewest threes hit the season and is the second-lowest percentage of the season behind a 2-18 (11.1 percent) outing against UT San Antonio.
• IUPUI gave up 70 points for the first time since a 70-52 loss at Youngstown State. The Jags have allowed 70 points in seven games this season and are now 2-5 when doing so. The only other win was a 73-72 win over UT Martin back on Nov. 13.

UP NEXT
IUPUI will head to Detroit Mercy for a meeting with the Titans on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.