INDIANAPOLIS – IUPUI women's basketball clinched the regular season title with a 60-53 win over Milwaukee on Friday (Feb. 21). The title is the first in school history for the Jags and IUPUI will now be the No. 1 seed in the Horizon League Women's Basketball Championship.
In the win, IUPUI was led by Rachel McLimore and Macee Williams who each scored 14 points and Holly Hoopingarner added 12. The Jags used a strong second quarter to take control of the game and held on as Milwaukee made a furious late rally to earn the victory.
"I am just really proud of this group of young ladies to stay focused during that 13-game win streak," said head coach Austin Parkinson. "You are going to have ups and downs and we have had a lot of ups. I am proud of this current group of players to have the first regular season championship. It is a credit to them but it's also a credit to the former players who have helped build this program"
The Jags had an 18 point lead heading in to the final quarter but Milwaukee began the quarter on a 13-0 run to pull within five. The Panthers were led by seven points from Alyssa Fischer and six from Brandi Bisping during the run. IUPUI went 0-for-4 from the field and committed three turnovers to let Milwaukee climb back in the game.
Holding on to a five-point lead, Destiny Perkins missed a three from the top of the key but Williams pulled down an offensive rebound to keep the possession alive. Williams then found McLimore in the corner for a three to snap the run. Milwaukee got the game to within two after a 5-0 run before McLimore hit a layup. A couple misses from Milwaukee and free throws by Williams and Hoopingarner helped IUPUI close out the game.
The Jags did not have their best shooting night, hitting 39.6% from the field despite shooting 70% from the floor in the second quarter. IUPUI did have a strong night from the free throw line, going 14-for-18, led by Hoopingarner, who went 5-for-6. Hoopingarner also led IUPUI with five assists as the Jags finished with 12 assists on 21 made baskets.
The biggest advantage IUPUI had came in points off turnovers as the Jags turned 16 Milwaukee turnovers in to 19 points. Milwaukee only managed eight points on 12 IUPUI turnovers.
The Jags also managed to outrebound the Panthers by three, led by 10 from Katelyn O'Reilly, who also chipped in eight points.
Both teams started the game slowly as IUPUI led 16-14 after the first quarter but in the second quarter, IUPUI's offense came alive. The Jags went 7-for-10 from the field and held Milwaukee to 3-for-10 from the floor in the second quarter. Milwaukee took an 18-16 lead with 7:30 left in the quarter but over the next 5:29 in the frame, the Jags blew the game open with a 19-0 run.
The run started with a three by Sydney Roule and O'Reilly added a jumper before McLimore hit her own three. Morgan Allen hit a jumper in the paint before Hoopingarner scored seven-straight points. O'Reilly's jumper with 1:10 left in the quarter made the score 35-18 and completed the run.
"Our bench was awesome in the second," said Parkinson. "Morgan and Destiny Perkins came off the bench and played very well. Macee and Rachel got in foul trouble and our bench stepped up in a big way
With the win IUPUI has now clinched the top seed in the Horizon League Tournament, meaning the Jaguars first game will be in the semifinals on Monday, March 9 at 12 p.m. at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Tickets for the game can be purchased here.
UP NEXT
IUPUI will take on Green Bay on Sunday (Feb. 23) as the Jaguars will play their annual breast cancer awareness game. The game against the Phoenix will tip at 2 p.m.
