Box Score
INDIANAPOLIS -- Committing 31 turnovers for the game and failing to knock down a basket for the opening 4:08 of the second half, the IUPUI women's basketball team squandered an opportunity to move to .500 in Summit League play, dropping a 56-46 decision to South Dakota State Saturday afternoon at The Jungle.
IUPUI (5-11, 1-3 Summit) saw seven of the nine players who appeared in the game commit at least two turnovers. The miscues spoiled the Jaguars defensive effort, which saw them force 27 South Dakota State (11-5, 4-1 Summit) turnovers.
Jernisha Cann led the Jags with 13 points and 7 rebounds, but was limited on the glass for most of the afternoon. The Kansas City, Mo.-native chipped in 7 steals, as the Jaguars pressured the Jackrabbits most of the afternoon.
Coming out of halftime, the Jaguars appeared in a position to pounce on the Jackrabbits, but it was SDSU who came out with the intensity to build a comfortable lead. Four IUPUI turnovers led to quick baskets for South Dakota State, who pushed their advantage to 13 before the Jags rallied.
A layup by Brittany Ransom stopped the bleeding four minutes into the half and stopped an 8:20 stretch in which IUPUI did not hit a field goal spanning both halves. Ransom's basket seemed to spur the Jags, as they went on a 13-3 run to cut their deficit to three.
Brykeesha Tate knocked down a three to make it an eight-point game, and the Jaguars withstood a Jackrabbit long-ball to get back-to-back three-pointers from Nicole James, making it a five-point game.
Two Cann free throws made it a one-possession game, but IUPUI got no closer, as turnovers on three consecutive trips down the court helped South Dakota State push their lead back to 8.
The Jaguars had one more run in them, cutting an 11-point deficit to 5 with 2:47 to play, but Morgan Meier knocked down a three from the wing to give the Jackrabbits a cushion in their Summit League debut in The Jungle.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with the teams trading the lead eight times. Despite turning the ball over 19 times, the Jaguars only trailed by three by forcing 17 Jackrabbit miscues.
James had a career-best 7 rebounds and 4 steals.
Jenn Warkenthien led all players with 18 points and 9 rebounds.
South Dakota State, in their first season in The Summit League, is completing their NCAA Division I certification process, and will not be eligible for postseason play.
IUPUI will be back in action on Monday night, when they look for a split against the Dakotas versus North Dakota State. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, and the game can be seen on SummitTV via The Summit League website.
