MILWAUKEE, Wisc. - With 13 straight victories behind them, the IUPUI Jaguars have been the class of the Horizon League as the regular season enters its home stretch. IUPUI (18-5, 15-3 HL) currently equals Youngstown State for first place in both total conference wins and conference winning percentage, and the Jaguars will look to keep rolling against Milwaukee and Green Bay.
Former Iowa State Cyclone
Madison Wise (7.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG) was prolific last game against Northern Kentucky. Wise usually brings solid defense, rebounding and playmaking, but on Saturday she exploded for 18 points and seven boards going 7-of-9 from the floor and 3-of-3 from deep. According to head coach
Austin Parkinson, Wise had "her best game in an IUPUI uniform", and her well-rounded play is yet another tool in a loaded Jaguar arsenal.
Macee Williams (17.8 PPG, 10.3 RPG) is still the only Horizon League women's player averaging a double-double. She was her usual self against Northern Kentucky last week, contributing 19 points and nine rebounds.
Rachel McLimore (13.2 PPG, 3.4 RPG) has been hot as well, scoring 17 or more points in four of her last five games.
Sixth-ranked Milwaukee (11-13, 10-7 HL) will be IUPUI's first stop on this week's Wisconsin road trip. The Panthers aren't a high-flying offense—their 60.0 PPG scored is ninth in the conference—but they do have the fifth-best defense allowing 59.9 PPG. Milwaukee's top player is redshirt sophomore forward Megan Walstad, who leads her team in both scoring (15.0 PPG) and rebounding (8.8 RPG).
Walstad is just one part of a balanced veteran lineup. Guards Sydney Staver (9.1 PPG), McKaela Schmelzer (8.3 RPG) and Miquela Santoro (8.2 PPG) are all graduate students and relevant offensive threats to watch out for. Schmelzer is a former two-sport athlete who 2019-2020 helped Milwaukee's soccer team reach the NCAA Tournament.
IUPUI takes on Milwaukee Thursday night at 8 PM ET on ESPN+.
Third-ranked Green Bay (15-5, 11-3 HL) will likely be one of the Jaguars' toughest tests down the stretch. The Phoenix, coached by 35-year veteran Kevin Borseth, wield the Horizon League's best defense allowing just 55.3 PPG. IUPUI is tied for highest-scoring offense at 70.7 PPG, setting up a proverbial clash between unstoppable force and immovable object. Yet the Jaguars could have an advantage, as their No. 2-ranked defense (56.5 PPG allowed) will be facing Green Bay's No.7-ranked offense (61.8 PPG).
IUPUI edged out the Phoenix 51-49 on January 6 in their last match. The Jaguars also defeated Borseth's unit 51-37 back in March 2020 to win their first-ever Horizon League title, and Green Bay is likely motivated to get even. Junior guard Hailey Oskey leads her team with 12.9 PPG, and redshirt freshman Cassie Schiltz is second with 8.2 PPG.
The Jaguars try to extinguish the Phoenix once again on Saturday at 2 PM ET. Catch the action on ESPN+.
