In the final home game of the season, Oakland fell 87-71 to IPFW Saturday at the Athletics Center O’rena.

Freshman forward Olivia Nash ended the game with her eighth double-double of the season, giving her the lead in the Summit League. She scored 11 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

“I thought IPFW had a really hot shooting night,” head coach Beckie Francis said. “They took 22 threes and made 10 of them. Usually when a team shoots 46 percent from the three, it’s going to be a long night.”

Freshman guard Elena Popkey finished the game with a career-high 23 points. Popkey was 3-6 beyond the arc.

“My teammates were getting me open and it felt good,” Popkey said. “I do what I can to help out my team.”

Both teams hit the three-point shot to get the action started within the game’s first minute. The three-point line proved to be friendly for Oakland (9-17, 3-11 Summit) and IPFW (12-14, 8-6 Summit) with the Grizzlies shooting 7-17 while the Mastadons shot 10-22 from beyond the arc.

Oakland had a one-point lead that turned into a seven-point lead for IPFW when the Mastadons went on an 11-4 run. Sophomore guard Amy Carlton came in and hit a three-pointer to make it 27-22 with under 7:30 remaining until halftime.

Carlton finished the game with 12 points and three rebounds off the bench.

“Amy is a fighter,” Francis said. “Amy is really coming along well. She’s in there for her defense and for her to come in and get 12 points is wonderful.”

IPFW took control in the second half and never let the momentum shift. The Grizzlies shot 43.8 percent in the second while Fort Wayne shot an even 50 percent.

With junior guard Zakiya Minifee out for the season, the Grizzlies have lost what Francis describes as an “Olympic level athlete and a freak defender.”

As Oakland moves on to its final two road games and the Summit League Tournament right around the corner, they are confident in their chances.

“What I’m encouraged (about) is, they still believe that we can win and they haven’t quit,” Francis said. “And they keep working hard. This team hasn’t given up.”

Oakland will travel to IUPUI Feb. 27 and Western Illinois Mar. 2 to finish up the season. The Summit League Championship will be held in Sioux Falls Mar. 9-12.