INDIANAPOLIS – In the opening contest of the 2023-24 season, the IUPUI women's basketball team battled with Eastern Illinois from the opening tip to a 77-72 triumph Monday night (Nov. 6), college basketball's opening day.  

The sides swapped baskets for the opening five-plus minutes, leading to a 14-13 IUPUI lead at the first media timeout. Katie Davidson got the home fans in The Jungle off their feet early, scoring a team-high 11 points in the quarter and seven of the opening nine Jaguar points. 

The Panthers also had a double-digit scorer in the first ten minutes, with Lalani Ellis also notching 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting. The freshman also led her team in rebounds, pulling down four total and three offensive boards.  

Both teams struggled to secure rebounds on the defensive end, with 13 total offensive rebounds in the first quarter, leading to 18 second chance points (10 for EIU and eight for IUPUI). Turnovers were also an issue in the opening quarter of the season for both teams, combining for nine which led to 11 points (six for EIU and five for IUPUI).  

The Jaguars tightened up defensively in the second quarter, holding the Panthers to just 11 points and 28 percent shooting from the field. On the other side of the ball, the hosts shot over 40 percent, including 50 percent from behind the arc. Both 3-pointers came from Logan Lewis who shined in the second ten minutes, connecting on all three of her attempts for eight points to lead all players in the quarter and reach ten in the game. Graduate transfer Jazmyn Turner followed closely behind, tallying seven after scoring six in the first quarter. Turner was one of three Jags to reach double digits in the first half, joining Lewis and Davidson who led all players with 14.  

IUPUI's stellar second propelled the team to a five-point lead at the half. The advantage could have been larger, but the team failed to convert on five free throw attempts, going 4-for-9 in the quarter.  

Both defenses starred to start the second half, with the teams combining for just 12 points before the first media timeout. The Jags especially struggled offensively, making two of the first 12 field goal attempts to begin the third quarter.  

IUPUI held onto the 55-51 lead after 30 minutes of play despite shooting just 25 percent from the field in the third stanza. After Eastern Illinois cut the deficit to one, 57-56, in the first minute of the fourth, the hosts scored five straight to increase the lead and gain some momentum.  

Panther head coach Matt Bollant called a timeout after a Charita Lewis 3-pointer cut the Jag advantage to four with just over five minutes remaining. Following the break, the teams traded layups before back-to-back threes from Davidson gave the Jaguars their largest lead of the night, 75-65.  

Five quick points by the visitors made it a five-point game with just over a minute to play. Following a missed 3-point attempt, Macy McGlone grabbed the rebound and laid it in to make it a one-possession contest with 17 seconds remaining.  

Eastern Illinois looked to extend the game by sending the Jags to the free throw line, but Davidson hit both attempts, securing the season's first victory, 77-72.  

"It's always nice to start the season with a win," said head coach Kate Bruce. "There are a lot of things we need to improve on but I was impressed that our team came together and found a way to win. It was great to be back in the Jungle playing in front of our fans."

The two points from the charity stripe pushed the Indy native to a game-high 32 on the night. The junior also added seven rebounds, including five offensive, and an assist. Turner also impressed in her IUPUI debut, recording 19 points and a game-high 17 boards. The forward also anchored the Jaguar defense, registering three blocks and two steals.