INDIANAPOLIS - IU Indy opened its home schedule with a 70-69 win over SIUE, capped by
Ariana Williams' buzzer-beating putback.
E'Zaria Adams made the play before it possible with a late steal.
"Really excited that we came away with a win on that one," said Head Coach
Kate Bruce. "A lot of huge plays by several different players on our team down the stretch. I thought Destini [Craig] had a big offensive rebound off a free throw then got fouled. Then obviously
E'Zaria Adams making that steal at the end of the game, and
Ariana Williams not quitting and running down there and making that layup was huge for us. It wasn't the prettiest but we found a way, our team found a way and they never gave up, so I'm really proud of them.
IU Indy finished the first quarter on a 6-0 run after SIUE tied the game at 10.
Olivia Flynn and
Olivia Smith each made two free throws, and Flynn added a putback to help the Jaguars take a 16-10 lead.
The teams scored 19 points apiece in the second quarter. Adams scored twice in the paint, and IU Indy got a pair of transition baskets after steals—one from
Olivia Smith and another from
Mylie Wilkison The Jaguars went to halftime ahead, 35-29.
SIUE outscored IU Indy 18-9 in the third and took a 47-44 lead into the fourth. The Jaguars sparked a mid-quarter push, briefly taking the lead back with free throws from
Reagan Sipla at 44-42 but the Cougars finished on a 5-0 run to take the lead into the fourth quarter.
The Jaguars answered with 26 points in the fourth as the teams traded baskets through a tense finish. Down five with 44 seconds left, IU Indy chipped away the SIUE lead. The Jags knocked the lead down to one with a free throw from Craig before Adams stole the ball with four seconds left; Williams grabbed the rebound after Adams' missed layup and tipped it in at the buzzer for the win.
Olivia Smith led IU Indy with 16 points and nine rebounds.
Olivia Flynn added 11 points and
Hailey Smith scored 10. Adams finished with four points and a steal, while Williams' two points included the game-winning basket.
IU Indy will next travel to Indiana State on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
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