INDIANAPOLIS - As regular-season champions, the top-seeded IUPUI Jaguars (21-4, 18-4 HL) begin their quest for their second-ever Horizon League Tournament title on Thursday night against the squad they last faced: Robert Morris. The eighth-seeded Colonials (14-14, 11-11 HL) fell 73-40 against IUPUI in the regular season finale, but rebounded on Tuesday with a 70-56 victory over No. 9 Purdue Fort Wayne.
 
The Jaguars remain a heavy favorite on paper, armed with the Horizon League's second-best offense (70.1 PPG) and defense (56.0 PPG allowed). Only three teams have managed to score 70 or more points against IUPUI all season: Ball State, Iowa and Green Bay, with the first two being nonconference foes. The Jaguars decimated Robert Morris last time out, leading from start to finish and holding the Colonials to under 28 percent from the floor.
 
Earlier this week, Macee Williams (18.1 PPG, 10.0 RPG) did what only three other Division I women's basketball players have ever done before: win her fourth conference Player of the Year award. Williams finished the regular season second in Horizon League scoring behind Destiny Leo of Cleveland State, and first in rebounding. She is also tied for third among IUPUI players with 49 assists.
 
Two other Jaguars received accolades this week. Rachel McLimore (12.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG) was named All-League Second Team and All-League Defensive Team for her excellent two-way play. She led IUPUI with 71 assists and locked down elite opponents throughout the season, including Big Ten Player of the Year Caitlin Clark of Iowa. Rachel Kent (10.9 PPG, 3.6 RPG) earned All-League Third Team honors after shooting 41.4 percent from beyond the arc and leading the conference in made 3-pointers per game (2.5).
 
Meanwhile, Robert Morris has won five of its last seven games. They began the Horizon League Tournament positively, outscoring Purdue Fort Wayne in points off turnovers (21-13), points in the paint (30-14) and bench points (32-5). Sophomore forward Sol Castro of Argentina (8.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG) posted a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double, while fellow second-year Mackenzie Amalia, a guard, scored 15 points of her own. Spanish senior Esther Castedo (10.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG) nearly got her own double-double with 14 points and nine assists.
 
The Colonials, however, have been shorthanded as of late. Usual starting center Ashya Klopfenstein (8.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG) has not played since February 24, missing the last two games. If she can't go on Thursday, we could see freshmen bigs Phoenix Gedeon (3.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG) and Danielle Vuletich (1.3 PPG, 1.4 RPG) play increased minutes to relieve Castro, especially when Williams is not on the floor.
 
IUPUI hosts Robert Morris in a Horizon League Tournament quarterfinal matchup Thursday at 7 PM ET on ESPN+.