INDIANAPOLIS (1-4-24) - Senior Irene Murua posted her fourth double-double of the season scoring a season-high 22 points on 8-for-15 shooting while going 2-for-2 for her first career 3-pointers in a Titan uniform along with 12 rebounds as Detroit Mercy battled but came up short with a 81-76 overtime setback at IUPUI on Thursday night. Sophomore Amaya Burch also had a season-high 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting going 2-for-4 from long range with four boards while junior Emma Trawally Porta was the third player in double figures with 16 points on 7-for-13 shooting with seven rebounds.

Sophomore Myonna Hooper chipped in with seven points while freshmen Makayla Jackson and Paris Gilmore along with senior Jada Moorehead had four points each.

The game was evenly matched for the duration with Detroit Mercy (10-5, 3-1 HL) moving ahead 45-41 midway through the third quarter but IUPUI (3-11, 1-4 HL) remained within striking distance only trailing by three points heading into the fourth quarter at 50-47.

The fourth quarter provided offensive fireworks as both teams got hot from the field with Detroit Mercy going 8-for-12 (66.6%) while IUPUI matched shooting 7-for-12 (58.3%) as the teams combined for 45 total points.

The Jaguars opened the fourth on a 15-9 spurt to retake the lead at 62-59 before Murua stopped the bleeding converting a layup followed by an and-1 free throw to complete the 3-point play. Jackson then took over connecting on a driving layup followed by a pair of free throws. She then delivered a nice dish to Trawally Porta who connected on a layup to cap off a 10-0 as the Titans retook the lead at 68-62 with three minutes to go. IUPUI responded with a 6-0 spurt tying the game at 68-68 with a 1:20 left. Burch hit a clutch 3-ball but the Jags came right back with one of their own tying the game once again at 71-71 with 18 ticks left. The Titans had the ball with a chance to win but committed a turnover. However, they dodged a bullet as IUPUI's Jazmun Turner's shot at the buzzer rimmed out sending the game into overtime. 

The Jags scored the first five points in the extra frame before Burch hit a layup pulling UDM within a point, 75-74, at the 2:44 mark. After falling behind by five points, Murua hit a layup to pull the Titans within three at 79-76 with 1:18 left. After a defensive stop, the Titans were unable to capitalize, missing a shot with 44 seconds left, and were then forced to foul with 14 seconds to go. The Jags then hit a pair of free throws to seal their first #HLWBB win of the season. 

In the first half, the Titans had a seven-point lead at 20-13 after the first quarter. IUPUI clawed their way back to even at 27-27 mid-way through the second half. The score then stayed tied over the next four minutes as baskets were hard to come by. The Jags finally broke through before Burch hit a 3-pointer just before the buzzer giving the UDM a 3-point lead, 34-31, at the half.

Detroit Mercy returns home for #HLWBB action against Purdue Fort Wayne on Sunday, Jan 7, at p.m.