INDIANAPOLIS - IUPUI saw its 14-game win streak end last Saturday with a 71-56 road defeat to the Green Bay Phoenix. With the loss, IUPUI (19-6, 16-4 HL) dropped to third in conference rankings behind Youngstown State (23-4, 17-3 HL) and the Phoenix, but with a Green Bay (17-6, 13-4) loss on Monday, the Jaguars are back in the hunt for first behind Youngstown State. And their next opponent will be none other than the aforementioned Youngstown State Penguins.
 
The Jaguars' game against Youngstown State on Thursday night could very well determine who gets top seed in next month's Horizon League Tournament. Macee Williams (18.3 PPG, 10.1 RPG) and Rachel Kent (11.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG) accounted for nearly 70 percent of IUPUI's offense against Green Bay: Kent led her team with 21 points and five boards, while Williams scored 18 points and nine rebounds. The Jaguars will need all hands-on deck against a formidable foe in one of the regular season's biggest matchups.
 
Coach John Barnes has led Youngstown State to its best record since at least the 2006-07 season. The Penguins are smooth operators armed with the league's third-best offense (67.1 PPG) and second-best defense (56.3 PPG allowed). Youngstown State is also disciplined with the ball, leading the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.03). IUPUI still has the second-ranked offense (70.1 PPG) and third-ranked defense (57.2 PPG allowed)—it will be interesting to see if they can keep pace at both ends of the floor.
 
Senior forward Lilly Ritz is a player to be reckoned with for the Penguins. She is fourth in Horizon League scoring (17.0 PPG) and second in rebounding behind only Williams (9.9 RPG). Redshirt senior guard Chelsea Olson does it all with 11.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG and a team-high 4.7 AST/G, and sophomore Malia Magestro chips in a solid 9.8 PPG.
 
The pivotal clash between IUPUI and Youngstown State goes down Thursday at 6 PM ET. If you can't make it to the Jungle, stream on ESPN+.
 
Later on Saturday afternoon, the Jaguars conclude their regular season with Senior Day against the Robert Morris Colonials. Robert Morris (12-13, 10-10 HL) is currently eighth out of 12 Horizon League teams. They struggle offensively, scoring just 54.7 PPG (which is second-last in the conference and behind the one-win Detroit Mercy Titans). The Colonials are much better on defense: their 57.9 PPG allowed is good enough for fourth.
 
Robert Morris is led in scoring by senior guard Esther Castedo from Lugo, Spain (11.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG). Forward Sol Castro of Rio Colorado, Argentina contributes 8.6 PPG and 5.2 RPG, while junior center Ashya Klopfenstein is the team's best glass cleaner with 8.3 PPG and 5.5 RPG.
 
The Jaguars close out the regular season with a 2 PM ET Saturday matinee against the Colonials on ESPN+. Don't forget: outbound veterans Williams, Morgan Allen, Madison Wise and Taylor Ramey will be honored during and after the game.