#HLWBB Three Stars of the Day - Tuesday, March 10
By David Song
Sports Capital Journalism Program, IUPUI
INDIANAPOLIS – History was made at the Indiana Farmers’ Coliseum on Tuesday afternoon as the top-ranked IUPUI Jaguars capped off a groundbreaking season with the first Horizon League Championship in program history. The Jaguars relied on their relentless defense to smother the second-seeded Green Bay Phoenix in a 51-37 victory. Now, IUPUI turns toward uncharted territory, having earned its first-ever berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Here are the three stars from Tuesday’s #HLWBB final.
Holly Hoopingarner (IUPUI): In the final game of her Horizon League career, the senior guard from Greenwood, Indiana led all scorers with 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting. Hoopingarner notched a game-high four assists, but her 4-of-5 effort from beyond the arc repeatedly provided IUPUI with critical points at critical times.
Her biggest shot came at 0:59 in the quarter, ending a seven-minute Jaguar scoring drought. Just as Green Bay had reduced IUPUI’s lead to five points, Hoopingarner stepped up with a clutch 3-pointer, snatching momentum away from the Phoenix. For her efforts, Hoopingarner was named Most Valuable Player of the Horizon League Women’s Basketball Championship.
“[Macee’s] a big force inside,” she said. “Whatever [Green Bay] chose to do, it leaves us open on the perimeter. I was just happy to be getting the ball today.”
Macee Williams (IUPUI): The two-time Player of the Year was not quite her usual dominant self, shooting just under 36% as a feisty Phoenix defense held IUPUI to a collective 18-of-48 from the floor. Nonetheless, Williams managed 13 points and led all players with nine rebounds, including seven defensive boards that denied Green Bay a number of second-chance opportunities.
Williams, as usual, was tough to handle down low, drawing four fouls and helping to establish IUPUI’s 9-for-12 effort from the free throw line. She continued to adapt to her opponent’s game plans, responding to Green Bay’s post defense with her passing skills. All three of Williams’ assists led to Hoopingarner 3-pointers.
Madison Wolf (Green Bay): In a game where no Phoenix player reached double-digits in scoring, the redshirt senior center collected eight points, four rebounds and three assists on 4-of-9 from the floor. But it was the timing of her contributions that stood out above those of her teammates.
Wolf sparked Green Bay’s best offensive stretch, an 8-0 run in the third quarter. She scored six of her eight points during that quarter, including a timely layup that cut the IUPUI lead to 39-34 at 1:38 of the third quarter. Wolf also drew five fouls over the course of the game, using her size and length to battle the Jaguars in the paint.