FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The IUPUI women's basketball team almost erased a 12-point deficit but came up three points short as the Jags fell to Purdue Fort Wayne on Saturday, 68-65. Three Jaguars tallied double-digits in the loss. Katie Davidson lead all scorers with 17 points while sophomore Abby Wolterman added 15 points and Tahlia Walton totaled 11.
 
Purdue Fort Wayne (15-9, 8-5 HL) sunk eight three-pointers to take the edge over the Jags. Amellia Bromenschenkel led the Dons with 16 points while Audra Emmerson and Sydney Graber added 11 each.
 
IUPUI was held to just over 40 percent shooting and 1-of-13 (7.7 percent) from behind the arc. The Mastodons full court press also forced the Jags 17 turnovers. Despite having a 10-point deficit at the half the Jags outscored the Mastodons in the third (19-to-14) and the fourth quarter (18-to-15) to nearly erase the difference.
 
The Jaguars started the game off scoring the first two points, eventually taking a 12-4 lead after stopping the Dons on five straight possessions. Purdue Fort Wayne quickly recovered with a 7-0 run to cut the lead to one point at 12-11. Wolterman tallied eight points to lead the Jags to a five-point lead after the first quarter.
 
In the second quarter, the Mastodons went on a 12-0 run to take the lead from the Jags. Purdue Fort Wayne also made half of their three pointers in the second quarter, totaling four compared to IUPUI's zero. The Dons' press made it difficult for the Jags in the second, as they committed seven turnovers with PFW capitalizing with a 39-28 lead at the half.
 
Coming out at the half, the Jags cut into the lead, outscoring the Mastodons 19-14. IUPUI's defense held the Mastodons to just 21.1 percent (4-for-19) shooting. The difference in the third quarter came at the free throw line where IUPUI totaled 10-for-12 compared to PFW's 3-for-4.
 
IUPUI continued to outscore the Mastodons in the fourth quarter, 18-15 but it wasn't enough as Purdue Fort Wayne held onto the lead at 68-65.
 
Davidson led all scorers with 17 points while also adding five rebounds. Wolterman was one rebound shy of a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds. Walton added 11 points, six rebounds and three assists. Jazmyn Turner totaled nine points and seven rebounds.
 
IUPUI is now 5-16 overall with a 3-9 mark in the Horizon League. They next travel to Milwaukee on Thursday, February 8.