INDIANAPOLIS – IUPUI women's basketball completed its largest comeback in the last five seasons, overcoming a 15-point first quarter deficit to beat Youngstown State 72-65 on Friday (Feb. 12).

Macee Williams led the Jags with 25 points, including nine points in the final frame to bring the Jags back. Destiny Perkins, after missing the last four games, scored 16 points, including a career-high four threes and Rachel McLimore scored 13 points.

Williams once again did everything for the Jags, pulling down a game-high 10 rebounds, and leading the Jags with five assists and two steals.

"I am really proud of our team battle back after Youngstown got off to such a good start," said head coach Austin Parkinson. "This was our most resilient win of the year as we buckled down defensively in the fourth quarter. Macee was terrific on both ends and Destiny stepped up after being out the last four games."

IUPUI got off to a sluggish start, falling behind by as many as 15 points in the first quarter. Youngstown State dominated IUPUI inside, outscoring the Jags 16-6 in the paint in the first quarter on route to a 28-15 lead. It was the second-most points IUPUI had allowed in a quarter all year and that second time this season the Jags had trailed after the first quarter.

The Penguins grabbed another 15-point lead early in the second but IUPUI started to chip away at the lead, holding Youngstown State scoreless over the last four minutes of the second quarter. IUPUI's run started with a free throw from Natalie Andersen and after a turnover, Williams hit a layup to cut the lead to ten. Just over a minute later, Perkins hit a three, getting the deficit under ten.

After IUPUI forced another turnover, Morgan Allen dropped in a layup from Williams and McLimore hit a turnaround in the paint to cut Youngstown State's lead to three at the half.
The Jags held Youngstown State to just 36 percent shooting in the second quarter and IUPUI had an 11-2 lead in bench points with five from Perkins and four from Andersen in the frame.

Two minutes in to the third quarter, a three by McLimore and a jumper by Williams tied the game at 41 but Youngstown pushed the lead back to four thanks to back-to-back turnovers by the Jags. The lead would stretch to seven for the Penguins but a layup by Williams and three from Agatha Beier cut the lead back to two. After two baskets from Youngstown State, Katelyn O'Reilly's jumper with under 30 seconds left in the quarter made it a four point game after three quarters.

Down five with just over six minutes to play, IUPUI started to make a run. A layup by Williams was followed by a turnover for Youngstown State and McLimore responded with a jumper and earned a trip to the line with a foul. IUPUI was 1-for-5 from the line in the fourth when McLimore stepped up to give IUPUI a chance to tie the game but missed her free throw. Williams was there for an offensive rebound and made a layup while getting fouled. It was IUPUI's first lead of the game since 7:12 in the first quarter.

Williams stepped up to the line and hit the free throw to put IUPUI up two and both teams would go scoreless for the next two minutes. Youngstown State retook the lead with 2:43 left to play on a three but Perkins responded on the next Jaguar possession with a three to pu the Jags back up two.

O'Reilly picked up a big offensive rebound after a missed three by Perkins and Williams hit a free throw line jumper to beat the shot clock putting IUPUI up by four. After a miss by Youngstown, Perkins closed out the game with two free throws to complete the comeback.

QUICK NOTES
IUPUI shot over 50 percent from the field in each quarter.

The Jags held Youngstown State to nine points in both the second and fourth quarters. Youngstown State shot 68 percent in the first quarter and 50 percent in the third but was held under 37 percent in the second quarter and just 27 percent in the fourth.

Macee Williams pulled down her eighth double-double of the season. All eight double-doubles have come with Williams scoring at least 20 points.

IUPUI's 15-point comeback was the most in the last five seasons. The Jags had a 14-point comeback at Milwaukee on Jan. 24, 2019.

This was the first game of the season that IUPUI had trailed at halftime. IUPUI had not won a game when trailing with five minutes left in the game, Williams three-point play put IUPUI up by two with five minutes left on the clock.

The Jags led for just 5:50 second in the game. The fewest minutes IUPUI had led in a game this season before tonight was against Green Bay when IUPUI led for 23:21 on Jan. 29, IUPUI's last loss.