Wright State Earns 2021 #HLWBB Title
By Alex Burr
Sports Capital Journalism Program, IUPUI
INDIANAPOLIS – The lead was now 10 points as the final minute approached, the largest it had been until then, after Jada Wright’s put-back shot convinced the Wright State Raiders that the Horizon League Women’s Basketball Championship would soon be theirs. A final buzzer, a joyful pile on the court, and the 53-41 victory over defending champion IUPUI became Wright State’s second title in three seasons and the third in eight.
The top-seeded Raiders (18-7) will be headed to the San Antonio area for the NCAA Tournament. The Jaguars (15-5), who had celebrated a title at Indiana Farmers Coliseum a year ago, before the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA tournament deferred a championship group’s dream forever, were left with a painful memory.
"We overcame some obstacles to get to the final game that were challenging," IUPUI coach Austin Parkinson said of a season that included six cancelled games due to COVID-19 issues. "To be in the spot to lead at halftime, to feel like you can see the road to San Antonio, then to have that kind of run they put on us, there's not much I can say to my team to make them feel better."
Angel Baker, the Wright State junior guard, scored 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting to become Most Valuable Player of the tournament. She was joined on the All-Tournament Team by teammate Tyler Frierson, who scored nine points with eight rebounds; IUPUI senior Macee Williams, who scored 28 points with 13 rebounds; Rachel McLimore of the Jaguars and Mariah White of Cleveland State.
Baker is from Pike High School, just 10 miles from the Coliseum. “I think it means a lot to represent the city and come out with the dub,” she said. “It’s even more special when you’re at home.”
When asked how she felt about making the NCAA Tournament and the sacrifices it took to make it there, Baker said: “It means a lot. We had to sacrifice a lot, not seeing family, not being able to go places. It means a lot. All the work paid off, all the time we spent in the lab paid off, so it feels good.”
Williams, the first three-time Horizon League Player of the Year, scored all 16 IUPUI points in the second half. After the game, Williams said that she planned to return for a fifth season under NCAA eligibility rules adjusted because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Jaguars, the top-scoring and best-shooting team in the league this season, endured their most frustrating game at the worst possible time when faced with Wright State’s collective defensive effort.
The Jaguars had been held below 40% shooting twice this season before Tuesday afternoon. They made 25% of their shots, and went 0-for-17 from behind the 3-point line. Williams made 10 of 22 shots. Her teammates made 4 of 36.
A second consecutive championship was still within reach for the Jaguars as Wright State took a 38-36 lead into the fourth quarter. But 1-of-15 shooting by IUPUI in the final period allowed the Raiders to take control of the game.
As the fourth quarter wound down, Wright State put its clamps on IUPUI. The Jaguars were held scoreless for a decisive stretch of 8:59 in the third and fourth quarters, a 14-0 Raider run that turned a 36-30 IUPUI lead into a 44-36 Wright State advantage. The defending champions never came closer than six points after that.
Wright State coach Katrina Merriweather always had faith in Baker’s ability to come out and beat the defensive pressure that was applied to her. “(Baker’s) team did a good job of maintaining composure and finding her,” Merriweather said. “(IUPUI) does a good job of speeding you up on offense with their pressure. I know when the lights are on she is going to show up.”
Parkinson was not shy in his praise of Baker’s abilities. “She’s a stud, she’s one of the best guards in the country,” he said. “I was watching the [Southeastern Conference] games and they don’t have anyone as good as her. She’s so hard to guard, we were throwing three guys at her, but she hit tough shots. She is a handful to guard one on one.”
Merriweather credited her defensive personnel for how well they guarded Williams in the second half. “They were keeping their feet moving,” she said, “and everyone who played the five, Tyler (Frierson) and Shamarre Hale did a good job denying her, and Jada’s length was keeping (Katelyn) O’Reilly from making the post feed. It was everyone playing hard and together for 40 minutes.”
Merriweather believed the game was a good showcase for her team, and that she thought both teams played incredibly well. “There’s a reason this game was so sloppy,” Merriweather said. “We knew (IUPUI) was going to come out and compete. They are great, they are amazing. There are not a lot of teams who would have to go through the teams we have to go through.