INDIANAPOLIS – With four Jags in double figures, IUPUI moved to 4-0 in Horizon League play with a 72-52 win over Cleveland State on Sunday (Dec. 20). The Jags used a hot start to pull away from the Vikings early.
Despite only playing just over 17 minutes, Macee Williams led the Jags with 14 points and nine rebounds. Williams was an efficient 6-for-9 from the floor leading IUPUI to another strong shooting outing (47%). Sydney Roule hit double-figures again with 12 points on 4-for-5 shooting from three and both Rachel McLimore and Morgan Allen added 10 points.
IUPUI once again used good ball movement, handing out 18 assists on their 28 field goals. Roule and McLimore led the team with four assists.
The Jags jumped out to a 22-4 lead after the first quarter, scoring the first 16 points of the opening frame. Williams started the game with a layup followed by two free throws from Katelyn O'Reilly. On the Jags' next possession, Roule hit her first three to put IUPUI up 7-0. McLimore hit two layups on and Williams hit another shot in the paint before Roule hit a three to close the run.
"I was really proud of our leadership today," said head coach Austin Parkinson. "The second game last week [against Purdue Fort Wayne], we didn't come out with energy and focus and this time we did. We were awesome defending, taking care of the basketball and playing with energy. I thought our vets played really well and our execution was good."
Cleveland State (0-2, 0-2 Horizon) scored its first point of the game with 4:19 on the clock but Williams and Destiny Perkins both hit shots down low to increase the lead to 18. After two Viking free throws, Williams ended the quarter with a layup before the buzzer.
Working inside was again a theme for the Jags, who held a 34-22 lead in points in the paint. IUPUI also held a large advantage on the glass, outrebounding the Vikings 44-28. Behind Williams, Roule was second on the team with six boards and Allen finished with five.
The Vikings cut the lead to 11 halfway through the second but IUPUI responded with another run. Williams hit a hook shot before Destiny Perkins (6 pts) hit a three followed by another three from Natalie Andersen (8 pts). McLimore capped a run with driving layup to give IUPUI a 38-17 lead at the half.
Midway through the third quarter, an 11-0 run put the game out of reach. Allen hit two free throws, followed by a jumper from O'Reilly. The run was capped by a three-point play from Williams and a three by Trinity Duckworth.
IUPUI locked Cleveland State down on defense, allowing just 34% shooting and 28% from three-point range. Mariah White, a Preseason First Team All-Horizon selection, scored 19 points was 7-for-23 from the field and committed seven turnovers.
The Jags will now have two weeks off over Christmas break before being back in action at Robert Morris on Jan. 1 and 2 for their first road games of the Horizon League season.
