BEAUMONT, TEXAS -- Despite a furious late-game rally, the IUPUI women's basketball team could not overcome a first half in which they scored 20 points, falling to Lamar University, 61-54, Tuesday night at the Montagne Center.
IUPUI (3-4) was led by junior Jernisha Cann, who posted her third double-double of the season with 17 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
Cann, who was named The Summit League Womens' Basketball Player of the Week earlier in the day, was one of three players in double figures for the Jaguars. Senior Amy Cook had 11 points, while freshman Nicole James posted a career-high 10 points.
The Jaguars were able to close a 13 point deficit to five with 31 seconds remaining , but the last five minutes of the first half and the opening five minutes of the second half, in which Lamar outscored the Jags, 22-11, could not be overcome.
Entering the second half, it appeared that IUPUI would come back when Cann hit a layup to cut the Jaguar deficit to three, but Lamar scored the next seven points to open a 10-point lead.
The Lamar (5-2) lead fluctuated between six and 12, with the Jaguars having several opportunities to seize momentum. Down 10 with 7:50 to play, IUPUI had a two-on-one fast break, but Cann was whistled for a charging foul after sinking a running layup, eliminating the bucket and keeping the Lady Cardinal lead at 10.
The Jaguars kept coming at the Lady Cardinals, holding Lamar without a field goal for the final 5:53 while finally finding an offensive rhythm.
James had five of her 10 points down the stretch, hitting a three-pointer with a minute remaining, cutting the Lamar lead to 57-50. Sophomore Julia Whitted chipped in as well, scoring five of her nine points in the final five minutes. Her layup with 31 seconds to play made it a five-point game, but Lamar sealed the game at the free throw line.
The Jaguars ran hot and cold in the opening 20 minutes. Neither team hit a basket until Cann knocked down a jumper 3:13 into the game. Lamar went another 2:31 before hitting their first field goal, tying the game at 4.
IUPUI used a 6-0 run on a three-point play by Cann and long-range three by Cook to open a 10-4 lead. However, the Jags went on a dry spell, failing to score for over five minutes, allowing the Lady Cardinals to come back and tie the game at 12.
It appeared that the Jaguars found their rhythm again when freshman James knocked down a three and helped force a steal on the defensive end of the court, leading to a layup by junior Byrkeesha Tate, forcing a Lamar timeout.
The Lady Cardinals came out of the timeout and promptly went on an 11-3 run to close the half. Lamar got the ball inside to forward Brittney Williams, who scored six straight points to close the half and eight of Lamar's last 11, as the Lady Cardinals took a 25-20 lead into the half.
Cann and Cook combined for 15 of the Jaguars' 20 points in the first half.
IUPUI wrap up their four-game road trip against in-state rival Evansville on Sunday, December 2. The game will begin from the Roberts Center at 2 p.m. CST.
