INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI Lady Jags began their journey to the Horizon League Tournament with a convincing 98-50 home exhibition win over the IU Northwest RedHawks. Rachel McLimore led all players with 17 points and three triples, while three-time Horizon League Player of the Year Macee Williams added 10 points and five boards. Sophomore Anna Mortag also played well, contributing 15 points and six rebounds.
 
"It was just a good game to get back into uniform with fans," head coach Austin Parkinson said. "Everybody played. It was just nice to get back and play in front of fans."
 
IU Northwest, an NAIA team, was ill-equipped to take on the Jaguars in a game that was never close. IUPUI outscored the visitors 28-10 in the first quarter, controlling play with four 3-pointers and eight forced turnovers in that period alone.
 
The RedHawks tried to fight back in the second frame, scoring 17 to IUPUI's 20. Parkinson was not always thrilled with the Jaguars' inconsistent offensive rebounding, but that did not affect the end result. IUPUI held IU Northwest's five starters to a combined 20 points throughout the one-sided contest.
 
"I feel like we showed we have a lot of depth to our team," said McLimore. "We kind of have some things we can still fix even though the score was by a lot, but I feel like we have a lot of potential for the season."
 
Parkinson deployed his bench in the fourth quarter, giving valuable reps to IUPUI's crop of freshmen and depth players. They rewarded him with hard, consistent play at both ends of the court despite the already-lopsided score. First-year center Jacquel Bronaugh made a field goal attempt and grabbed three rebounds, while forward Nakaih Hunter led all freshmen with seven points on 3-for-3 from the floor.
 
"They've earned it in practice and they're talented players," said Parkinson about his first-years. "Honestly, the player I was most proud of was [Bronaugh]. She did a great job of sealing and playing hard, both ends of the floor. We've had some years when in a fourth quarter like that, maybe things drop off, and it didn't [tonight]."

IUPUI finished the game at 49 percent from the floor and 11-of-31 (35.5 percent) from three while holding IUN to just 34.5 percent. IUPUI also delivered 22 assists on 37 buckets and scored 24 fast break points. 
 
The Jaguars will face a much stiffer test on the road next Tuesday against the Michigan Wolverines, currently No. 11 in the AP Top 25 poll. Tip-off will be at 7 PM Eastern on the Big Ten Network.