ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Golden Grizzlies closed out their regular season looking to extend their winning streak to three games and clinch a home game in the first round of the Horizon League Championship.

IUPUI started the game getting whatever they wanted on offense, opening the day shooting 6-of-6 from the field. Oakland opened 3-of-6, but the Jags' offensive pressure gave them the lead 14-6 with 6:24 remaining in the quarter.

Oakland found some rhythm offensively, scoring nine points in the final four minutes of the first quarter, stamped by a Brooke Quarles-Daniels jumper with five seconds left, moving the score to 15-26 at the end of the first.

Linda Van Schaik seemed to still be buzzing offensively from her career-high performance against Wright State, as she scored a game-high six points in the opening quarter against the Jags.

IUPUI was insanely efficient, missing only one shot, going 10-of-11 from the floor. With Oakland's defensive pressure sure to turn up a notch in the second quarter, the Golden Grizzlies would need a change of pace to go ahead.

The Jags didn't slow offensively, starting the second quarter with a 6-0 sprint as they took a 32-15 lead with just a minute and a half gone by in the quarter. Alexis Johnson broke the run with a pair of free throws to cut the IUPUI lead to 32-17.

Johnson kept her foot on the gas, scoring ten straight points as she drained a triple with 4:03 left in the half as the score became 25-43 in favor of the Jags.

Cam Grant, who got the starting nod in the game, contributed some huge plays to the game for Oakland, scoring the final five points of the half on a pair of layups and a free throw as Oakland trailed 32-52 going into halftime.

Alexis Johnson scored all 10 of her points in the second quarter, leading all Oakland scorers at the end of the first two quarters. Van Schaik and Markyia McCormick both contributed six points, but Oakland's 11-of-43 (.256) shooting in the first half held them back, especially when IUPUI went 18-of-28 (.643) and 6-of-10 (.600) from three point range, although they did cool down in the second quarter.

IUPUI kept their turnovers low, committing only five in the half, eliminating that whole part of Oakland's game.

The Golden Grizzlies did outrebound the Jags 23 to 18 in the half, and dominated the offensive glass to snag 14 offensive boards to IUPUI's zero.

Oakland started the third quarter off with the type of offensive burst they needed, going on an 11-0 run,stamped by a Quarles-Daniels putback layup, cutting the deficit to 12 Oakland as 42-54 with 5:35 left in the third frame.

The teams played almost in a deadlock through the final minutes of the quarter, with Oakland outsourcing IUPUI 8 to 6 in the final three minutes of the quarter. The Golden Grizzlies outscored the Jags 18 to 13 in the frame, lessening the gap as Oakland trailed 50-65 at the end of the period. 

The Oakland defense began to pester and be more effective against IUPUI, forcing seven turnovers in the quarter. 

The Golden Grizzlies, known for their elevation of play in crucial moments, showed fight at the start of the fourth quarter. Madison Royal-Davis scored a big and-one with 7:26 left to play, cutting the IUPUI lead to 11 (56-67).

With time winding down, Oakland didn't let up and show any less effort. The Golden Grizzlies rattled off an 8-0 run, capped off by a Quarles-Daniels layup, as a result of transition buckets and IUPUI turnovers as they trailed 68-87 with 1:29 left.

The run proved to be too little, too late as Oakland fell 71-92 to IUPUI in the regular season finale.

McCormick led all Oakland scorers with 17 points (5-of-10) and three steals. Johnson finished with 16 points (6-of-14), two steals, and three rebounds. Quarles-Daniels was the final Golden Grizzly in double-figures, reaching 14 points (6-of-17), five rebounds, and three steals.

The Golden Grizzlies just went cold offensively, shooting .325 (25-of-77) in the game, while IUPUI was red hot, going 31-of-51 (.608). The pace of the game was slowed by fouls on both sides, with the teams combining for 46 fouls. Oakland shot 24 free throws (17-24) while IUPUI went 20-of-25 from the line.

Still waiting for their fate in the Horizon League Championship Tournament, Oakland has clinched a home game in the first round and at least the number eight seed after Northern Kentucky fell to Cleveland State today as well.



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