INDIANAPOLIS – IUPUI women's basketball cruised in its season finale as four Jaguars finished in double figures in an 87-51 win over UIC. The Jags earned their 21st win of the season in the win against the Flames.
Macee Williams led IUPUI with 23 points and pulled down nine rebounds. Rachel McLimore poured in 16 points, going 5-for-6 from the free throw line while both Katelyn O'Reilly and Destiny Perkins each scored 10.
"Really proud of our ladies," said head coach Austin Parkinson. "You want to send the seniors out in style and we did that. I though our bench was tremendous and we finished the season out on a strong note."
IUPUI dominated the Flames inside, scoring 56 points in the paint to just 24 for UIC and outscored the Flames 19-9 in second chance points.
The Jaguars only led 16-11 after the first ten minutes but the offense opened up the game in the second quarter, outscoring UIC 30-15. During the second quarter, senior Holly Hoopingarner, who could have played her final game in the Jungle, scored her 1,000th-career point on a twisting layup, becoming the 27th Jaguar to reach the milestone.
"It's hard. It's a bittersweet moment," said Hoopingarner. "I loved every part of the coaches and the players I've been able to do it with. I have had a great career and I'm excited to see what is next but I will definitely miss it here."
With 4:18 left in the second quarter, the Jags broke open the game with 14-0 run over the next three minutes. Williams began the run with a jumper and Ali Berg hit a three to keep it going. After IUPUI's second steal of the run, Perkins scored five-straight points before Williams hit back-to-back baskets to close out the run with the Jags on top 41-22. The quarter ended with Agatha Beier beating the buzzer with a three and the Jags up by 20.
Williams and McLimore each scored four points to start the third quarter as IUPUI pushed the lead to 54-28.
A three point jumper by Natalie Andersen kick-started a run in the fourth quarter for the Jags and the 9-0 run was ended with a three-point play by O'Reilly to make the lead 31.
After the offense struggled in the last few games, IUPUI got back on track with 46.7% shooting from the field and the Jags went 13-for-18 from the free throw line.
The Jags held a 51-40 rebounding advantage over the Flames, led by 12 from O'Reilly. After Williams' nine, McLimore finished with eight points and Andersen grabbed seven.
IUPUI did a great job of taking care of the ball, giving up only six turnovers. The Jags also swiped 13 steals with Perkins coming away with five.
With the win, IUPUI finished with a school-record 15 wins in conference play. The Jags also finished the season 11-1 on their home court, the fewest losses in the Jungle since going 10-0 in 1997-98.
UP NEXT
IUPUI earned a bye to the semifinals of the Horizon League Women's Basketball Tournament and will play their next game on Monday, March 9 at Noon at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
