INDIANAPOLIS – IUPUI earned its first Horizon League win of the season with big win over Purdue Fort Wayne on Saturday (Dec. 12). The Jags cruised to a 75-36 win as the defense locked down the Mastodons.
IUPUI (3-1, 1-0) had 12 players score and did not allow a Purdue Fort Wayne (0-3, 0-1) player to get to double-figures. Macee Williams led the way for the Jags with 13 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds in just 21 minutes of play. Sydney Roule was the other Jag to reach double-digit points with 10, hitting three threes.
The Jags were on fire throughout the night, shooting 50 percent from the field (24-for-48) and going 8-for-20 (40 percent) from deep. IUPUI also held a big advantage in from the free throw line going 19-for-29 from the stripe as Purdue Fort Wayne went just 9-for-15.
"I thought our players were excited to start conference play," said head coach Austin Parkinson. "Once we started moving the ball a little bit we kind of got in to a flow a little bit. We have had three road games and to be able to play at home, it was really fun to be back out there in the Jungle."
IUPUI jumped out to a quick lead in the first quarter, outscoring the Mastodons 21-10. Roule started the game with a three and a three by Destiny Perkins put IUPUI up 6-2. With just over five minutes left in the quarter, Roule hit another three to make it 11-4 and IUPUI earned its first double-digit lead after three free throws from Natalie Andersen.
The defense locked down in the second quarter as IUPUI allowed just two points, on route to taking a 32-12 lead in to the locker room. Defense was the highlight of the game for Parkinson's squad, allowing Purdue Fort Wayne to shoot 30.2% from the floor and forcing the Mastodons in to 1-for-18 shooting from deep.
Williams began the third quarter with five-straight points and a four-point play by Roule put the Jags up 41-14. The Jags pushed the lead to 29 at the end of the third after free throws by Andersen and a three from Katelyn O'Reilly.
The fourth quarter belonged to the youth on the roster as Parkinson unloaded the bench for the last 10 minutes. Anna Mortag, who finished with nine points, and Ali Berg led IUPUI in the last quarter with five points. Trinity Duckworth scored four for the Jags and Jenna Cotter saw her first action of the year scoring three points on a three-point play.
IUPUI dominated inside, outscoring Purdue Fort Wayne 30-18 in the paint and turned 28 Mastodon turnovers in to 24 points. IUPUI also held a big advantage on the boards at 39-23.
The two teams will meet again on Sunday (Dec. 13) at 3 p.m.
