INDIANAPOLIS – The final non-conference game in the Jungle needed extra time to determine a winner, with the IUPUI women's basketball team falling to Eastern Michigan, 84-74, Friday night (Dec. 15) after being outscored 13-3 in the overtime period.

IUPUI (2-8, 0-2 HL) got off to an excellent start, scoring 14 of the game's first 16 points after three and a half minutes of play. The team shot a perfect 6-for-6 to begin the contest, with Katie Davidson accounting for half the field goals coupled with a free throw to lead all players with seven points. The efficient offense and stout defense forced Eastern Michigan interim head coach Ke'Sha Blanton to call an early timeout.

The dominance continued out of the break, with the Jags making their next two shots to continue perfect from the field. The Eagles finally got on the board with two free throws from Olivia Westphal. The Jaguars recorded their first missed field goal attempt at the 4:38 mark, playing five-plus minutes without a miss for the first time this season.

It took Jazmyn Turner all of 20 seconds to tally her first point in her first game back from injury, knocking in a free throw after getting fouled on a layup. A minute later, the graduate student connected on a floater from the free throw line through contact for her first field goal since picking up an injury at Ohio State (Nov. 12).

The 27 points scored by IUPUI in the first quarter were the most of any quarter this season, and the 10 points allowed are the fewest given up in any quarter. Six different players scored in the quarter, led by Davidson and Faith Stinson who each tallied seven. Apart from shooting nearly 70 percent from the field, the hosts also went a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc—the first time all season the team didn't miss a three-pointer in a quarter.

Eastern Michigan (2-7, 0-0 MAC) opened quarter number two on an 13-5 run to cut into the deficit. The run stemmed from the pressure on the defensive end, forcing seven IUPUI turnovers in as many minutes. On the offensive side of the ball, Ashley Hassett and Olivia Smith each connected on two three-pointers, including a buzzer-beater from Smith from just passed halfcourt that cut the deficit to single-digits, 40-32, after 20 minutes.

Davidson added six points in the second 10 minutes to reach 13 to lead all scorers in the first half. She also pulled down a team-high five boards and added two assists. The Jaguars did a great job finding open teammates, registering 11 assists in the first half, with four different players having two—Davidson, Jaela Johnson, Jaci Jones and Kace Urlacher.

Continuing the momentum built at the end of the first half, the Eagles quickly tied the contest at 42 after a 10-2 run to open the third quarter. The visitors continued their hot shooting from beyond the arc, with Cali Denson and ZaNiya Nelson each finding the bottom of the net from deep. The run forced head coach Kate Bruce to call her first timeout of the game to settle down her team.

An Abby Wolterman three-pointer restored the Jaguars' lead out of the break, while a Davidson fast-break layup following a steal quickly extended the lead to five. The hosts, however, wouldn't stop there, closing out the quarter on a 14-4 run before another Eagles' buzzer-beater three would make the score 56-49. Wolterman was a spark in the quarter, scoring half the team's points to maintain the lead.

The run continued into the fourth quarter, with IUPUI scoring 10 of the first 14 to increase the advantage to 13. After an Eastern Michigan timeout, Tayra Eke scored back-to-back baskets in the paint to again cut the deficit to single digits. A couple minutes later, the junior from Spain would knock down a jumper to keep her team in the game.

After holding the Jaguars scoreless for four minutes, the Eagles cut the deficit to five following a second-chance layup by Hassett. With two minutes remaining Eke again found the bottom of the net from the paint to make it a three-point contest. A pair of free throws by Hassett would cut the deficit to one with just under two minutes remaining.

Eastern Michigan would take its first lead since the opening minute of the game after a Kyndal Lewis layup, forcing an IUPUI timeout with 56 seconds left. Following the break, Davidson knocked down an elbow jumper to retake the lead—the team's first basket in almost six minutes of play.

Each side executed the plays the coaches drew up out of timeouts, leading to four consecutive lead changes before a foul sent Davidson to the free throw line with seven seconds left. After knocking down the first to tie the game she missed the second. However, a great defensive play by Davidson as time expired sent the game to overtime with the match squared at 71.

The Eagles opened the overtime period with back-to-back baskets to claim a four-point advantage. That lead was stretched to six following a driving layup by Eke. Head coach Kate Bruce was forced to call a timeout with just over two minutes remaining after Kennedi Myles extended the lead to eight.

Following the timeout Johnson hit a clutch three to give the Jaguars hope, but the three proved to be the only basket for the hosts in the overtime period, and the Eagles knocked down clutch free throws down the stretch to put the game out of reach. The victory was interim head coach Ke'Sha Blanton's first as she replaced Fred Castro earlier this week.

Eke led Blanton's squad with 18 points on an efficient 9-of-12 shooting. Four other Eagles reached double-digit scoring, including Myles who recorded a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 16 rebounds. The visitors 49-40 edge in the rebounding was a key part in the victory, as they notched 21 second-chance points compared to just seven for the Jags.

Katie Davidson again led IUPUI scorers, tallying a game-high 22 points on 10-of-18 shooting. The junior also grabbed seven boards and was credited for three assists. Stinson and Wolterman reached double-digits for the second straight game, recording 13 and 15 points, respectively. Wolterman also pulled down a team-high 8 rebounds and added three assists—both season-highs.  

The Jaguars will now travel to West Palm Beach to take on South Florida on Wednesday (Dec. 20). Tipoff is set for 1:15 and you can follow along live at IUPUIJags.com.