INDIANAPOLIS - In Saturday's showdown between high-powered Horizon League offenses, the IUPUI Jaguars prevailed against the Cleveland State Vikings at home 82-64. IUPUI was led by its three-headed dragon on the attack: Macee Williams dominated with 21 points and 16 rebounds, Rachel Kent notched 18 points going 6-of-9 from beyond the arc, and Rachel McLimore closed the show, scoring 12 of her 17 points in the fourth quarter.
 
Meanwhile, Destiny Perkins returned as a starter for the first time in six games. She made four of her six three-pointers for 12 points and contributed six assists—one more than Cleveland State managed as a team. IUPUI put up a collective 23 helpers in a dynamic attack that helped them achieve their ninth straight victory, never trailing at any point.  
 
The Jaguars successfully dealt with the league's top-scoring offense as well. Cleveland State's 64 points and 35.6 percent shooting were both below their season averages (72.2 PPG and 41.4 percent). Vikings guard Destiny Leo is the Horizon League's best scorer (20.3 PPG) but managed only 16 points on 6-of-15 from the floor. IUPUI continued to lead the conference from 3-point range, knocking down 13 of 23 deep balls at a 56.5 percent clip.
 
Head coach Austin Parkinson praised his team's intensity against an opponent they had to forfeit against earlier in the season. COVID-19 cases prevented IUPUI from playing on November 18, and Cleveland State elected to win by forfeit instead of rescheduling the game.
 
"Our kids were highly motivated, especially with the fact that we weren't able to play last time around," Parkinson said. "They were fired up today, and I thought they defended very well. [Assistant coach Latrell Fleming] did a good job with the game plan and the kids executed."
 
Cleveland State predominantly employs a zone defense, which turned out to be a fatal weakness against an IUPUI team with shooting prowess. The Jaguars won the opening tip, and Kent drained a 3-pointer on the very first possession. She lit up for four deep balls and 12 points in the first quarter, while Perkins contributed two three-pointers of her own. Simultaneously, IUPUI held the Vikings offense to just 26.3 percent from the floor.
 
"I just had to shoot it with confidence," said Kent. "Obviously, my teammates were the ones who set me up and got me open. The way [Cleveland State] was doing zone, whoever had the open shot had to take that opportunity, and we did."
 
The Jaguars were up 24-10 to begin the second frame. Cleveland State switched to man defense to pressure IUPUI's talented sharpshooters, but that meant they had to deal with Williams one-on-one in the post. The three-time Horizon League Player of the Year feasted on her opponents, punishing them with an array of post moves, hook shots and offensive-rebound put-backs for 11 points in the quarter. She was again efficient, shooting 9-of-11 from the floor throughout the game.
 
Down 20 points, the Vikings turned up the heat in quarter three: pouncing on any errant pass and clogging up the post. IUPUI started going to Williams a bit too often, which led to eight turnovers in the stanza compared to just one for Cleveland State. Senior Isabella Geraci and sophomore Deja Williams attacked for the Vikings, drawing fouls and going a combined 9-of-12 from the foul line. Yet the Jaguars shifted their offense near the end of the frame, setting up backdoor cutters for open layups at point-blank range.
 
Quarter four was the Rachel McLimore Show. McLimore put the hammer down: she was the only Jaguar to score in the first five minutes of the last stanza, and her 12 timely points quashed any hope of a Cleveland State comeback. Perkins hit one more long ball with under two minutes to go, punctuating a dominant victory.
 
"I don't even know what to say," Kent remarked about McLimore's efforts. "She hit a step-back three, she was weaving through the defense, and she can do that all the time. We know she's always going to be there and be someone who can do it all."
 
Geraci and Deja Williams finished with 12 points apiece in a losing effort. Other Jaguars of note include Anna Mortag, with nine points, Madison Wise, with six rebounds and five assists, and Natalie Andersen, who battled through a left shoulder injury to chip in two points, one board, one assist and one steal.
 
"Natalie Andersen, an absolute warrior," Parkinson said. "I don't care what her numbers said. Her shoulder popped out yesterday, she played today. Her toughness level was unbelievable."
 
IUPUI's record now sits at 14-5, 11-3 against conference opponents, two of those losses being forfeits. Today's breakthrough propels them past both Cleveland State (13-4, 8-3 HL) and Northern Kentucky (14-4, 8-3 HL) for second place in Horizon League standings. The Jaguars turn their attention to Oakland on Friday for yet another home game—tip-off will be at 7 PM ET on ESPN+.