Jaguars Dominate in Season Opener

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The IUPUI women’s basketball team opened the 2018-2019 season Tuesday night by cruising past Purdue Northwest by a score of 101-40.

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Photo by Justin Casterline via IUPUI Athletics


Defense was the big story for the Jaguars as they held the Pride to a measly 25 percent from the field and 15 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. The Jaguars also forced 28 turnovers and imposed their will on the glass, out rebounding the Pride 47-27.

The Jaguars torched the Pride by shooting a blistering 48% from the field and 42% from beyond the arc.

The Jaguars  opened the first quarter on an 18-2 run, which asserted their dominance for the remainder of the game. Redshirt Sophomore Katelyn O’Reilly, who sat out the previous season due to NCAA transfer rules, led the way in scoring in the quarter with 11 points, followed by junior Holly Hoopingarner with 7 points, and sophomore Macee Williams with 5 points. The Jaguars led the Pride 31-11 after the first quarter.

The Jaguars continued their dominance in the second quarter, hitting six three pointers while shooting a blistering 62 percent from the field and 60 percent beyond the arc. The Jaguars extended their lead to 59-20 by halftime. For the half, O'Reilly led the Jaguars with 14 points, followed by Senior Sydney Hall with 12 points, and Williams with 9 points.

“I was definitely really excited especially after sitting out after a year,” O’Reilly said. “My teammates really helped me adjust to the speed back from Florida Atlantic. My teammates are definitely the ones I lean on, and their always my motivators to keep going even when I’m tired.”

The Jaguars relied more on the role players in the second half as the starters got their rest. The Jaguars outscored the Pride 23-13 in the third quarter to extend their lead to 82-33.

The starters came back out to open the fourth quarter and IUPUI extended its lead to 88-33 with a free-throw made by Hoopingarner and a layup made by O’Reilly. The starters got an ovation from the home crowd for their efforts as the bench was brought in for the starters.

Coach Austin Parkinson was fairly pleased with his team’s effort, as he has been instilling a defensive-minded gameplan while also wanting the team to get out and run the floor.

“I thought the kids moved the ball incredibly well on offense,” Coach Parkinson said. “We were very unselfish and we shot it really well, and I think this team has the capability of being a really good three pointing shooting team. It was nice to finally see that, because we kinda struggled leading up to today in some of the game atmospheres because we have shot it well in practice.”

The Jaguars had six players score double figures, led by O’Reilly with 22. Hoppingarner and Williams both finished with 14,  Hall with 12 , sophomore Morgan Allen added in 11 points, and freshman Briana Mishler chipped in 10 points. Senior Allex Brown led the Jaguars in rebounding with 9  and O’Reilly added 6 rebounds as well.

The Jaguars hit the road Friday, Nov. 9 for an important early season matchup vs. Ole Miss.

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