INDIANAPOLIS – The IU Indy women's basketball team closed out its home slate with a thrilling 74-72 win over Detroit Mercy on Saturday afternoon at The Jungle. The Jaguars were led by
Olivia Smith with 20 points followed by senior
Sydney Bolden with 15 to secure the senior day victory, improving to 12-15 overall and 8-10 in Horizon League play.
The Jaguars and Titans battled through a tightly contested opening quarter. IU Indy shot 50 percent from the floor in the period and got early contributions in the paint, but Detroit Mercy answered on the other end to keep things even. The Jaguars held a narrow 17-15 advantage after one.
IU Indy found its rhythm offensively in the second, connecting on 7-of-12 shots and knocking down four three-pointers.
Sydney Bolden and
Olivia Smith sparked the surge from beyond the arc as the Jaguars built momentum, carrying a 41-34 lead into the break.
The Titans responded in the third, using a strong shooting stretch to chip away at the Jaguars' lead. IU Indy went 5-of-17 from the field in the period, but stayed within striking distance by converting at the free throw line. The back-and-forth affair continued, with IU Indy holding onto a 57-55 lead heading into the fourth.
The final quarter featured several ties and lead changes throughout the contest, as neither team could create separation. IU Indy relied on aggressive drives and clutch free throws to stay in the hunt. In the closing minutes, the Jaguars capitalized at the line and came up with key defensive stops to seal the two-point victory, 74-72.
Olivia Smith led the way with a game-high 20 points, adding five rebounds and four assists while going 9-of-14 from the free throw line.
Sydney Bolden followed with 15 points, including a perfect 3-for-3 effort from three-point range.
Hailey Smith contributed nine points and three rebounds, while
Nevaeh Foster added eight points and three boards. Off the bench,
Ariana Williams provided eight points and a team-high seven rebounds, helping IU Indy control key possessions down the stretch.
As a team, the Jaguars shot 41.5 percent from the field and forced 19 Detroit Mercy turnovers, turning those opportunities into 18 points.
The Jags improve to 12-15 with an 8-10 mark in the Horizon League. They will next face Green Bay on Wednesday, Feb. 25.
