DETROIT (2-16-23) - Senior
Imani McNeal led the way offensively with a team-high 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting, 2-for-4 from 3-point range, and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line while Sophomore
Emma Trawally Porta added nine points and a career-high 15 rebounds with four blocks to spearhead a solid defensive effort as Detroit Mercy stunned defending #HLWBB champion IUPUI, 57-48, in the home finale on Thursday night at Calihan Hall. After losing the first nine consecutive meetings, this marked the first victory for the Titans over the Jaguars in program history.
Junior
Irene Murua was the other Titan in double figures with 11 points and seven rebounds. Junior
Lucia Fleta Robles added eight points with five rebounds and three assists while freshman
Amaya Burch chipped in with seven points and five boards. Freshman
Myonna Hooper also added six points while matching a career-best seven rebounds for the third time this season.
IUPUI (14-12, 10-7 HL) entered tonight's match-up ranked second in the Horizon League in scoring (70.1 ppg), 3-point field goal percentage (34.6), 3-point field goals per game (8.5) and total 3-pointers (221) while ranking fourth in field goal percentage (42.5%). Detroit Mercy (5-21, 3-14 HL) set the tone early defensively and held the Jaguars to 5-for-27 (18.5%) from 3-point range and 17-for-67 (25.4%) shooting from the field for the game.
The third quarter proved to be the difference McNeal nailed her second 3-pointer as the Titans opened the frame on a 9-1 run to move ahead by 11 points, 38-27, with 6:30 remaining. Detroit Mercy went on the outscore IUPUI 17-7 overall to take a 13-point lead at 46-33 into the fourth quarter.
The Titans extended their lead to 15 points, 48-35, to open the fourth quarter. IUPUI closed the gap to 49-40 with 6:49 top play but that would be as close as they would get as Detroit Mercy moved back up 14 points with 1:11 left and held the Jags at bay from the free throw line to close out the game.
In the first half, baskets were hard to come by as both teams played even with 11-11 points each during the first quarter,
The second quarter ended with a pair of runs as the Titans went on a 7-1 run to move ahead 29-19 with 2:04 remaining followed by IUPUI who responded with a 7-0 spurt to pull within three points at the half at 29-26.
Detroit Mercy travels to arch-rival Oakland for a Metro Series showdown on Monday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m.
