Box Score

SHREVEPORT, La. – After spending parts of Friday in five different states and five various airports, it would have been easy for the IUPUI women’s basketball team to use fatigue as an excuse in their game versus Centenary. Instead, the Jaguars used a solid defensive performance to pull away for a 59-45 win over the Ladies Saturday afternoon at the Gold Dome.

IUPUI (7-11, 3-3 Summit) moved to the .500 in conference play by forcing a season-high 31 turnovers. Jernisha Cann posted her first double-double since Dec. 21 with game highs of 21 points and 12 rebounds. The double-double was Cann’s seventh of the season and 26^th of her career.

Cann was one of three Jaguars to score in double figures - Nicole James had 14 points, 10 in the first half, while Christina Cunningham had 11, 10 of those coming in the second half as she went 8-for-9 from the charity stripe in the final 20 minutes of action.

Leading by five in the early part of the second half, IUPUI pulled away with a 17-8 run over an eight-minute span, building a 51-37 advantage. For the half, the Jags forced 14 Centenary (3-13, 0-6 Summit) turnovers, converting the miscues into 12 points.

Unlike last Saturday, when the Jaguars forced 27 turnovers but were unable to capitalize on the opportunities, IUPUI turned the 31 turnovers into 27 points.

Cann helped the Jaguars control the interior, too, as the Jaguars outscored the Ladies, 24-18, in the paint. The Kansas City, Mo.-native’s three-point play 9:21 into the second half started IUPUI’s decisive run. During the run, the Jags forced seven Centenary turnovers.

IUPUI’s pressure defense kept Centenary out of sync for most of the contest. When the Jaguars were not able to force a turnover, they found success by forcing the Ladies to enter their offensive set late in the play clock.

The Jags were aided by the emergence of Julia Whitted in the second half. The Northview High School-product finished the contest with a modest 6 points and 10 rebounds, but all of her points and eight of her boards came in the final 20 minutes of play.

Cunningham helped ice the game at the free throw line, as their physical play helped the Jaguars go to the charity stripe a season-high 30 times. Their 21 freebies were also a season best.

In the opening 20 minutes, Cann combined with James to help the Jaguars fend off the Ladies. The duo combined for 20 of IUPUI’s 26 first-half points as James came out of the gate shooting, knocking down her first two three-point attempts of the game. The Franklin Central-product also keyed the Jags’ defense, leading the press.

As a result, the Ladies attempted just 16 field goals in the first half, as opposed to the 28 for the Jags. IUPUI’ stifling defense held Centenary to two field goals over the last 10 minutes of the opening stanza. The pressure defense helped IUPUI to a 26-19 lead at the half.

IUPUI improved its series record against Centenary to 9-0.

The Jaguars will continue their road trip on Monday night in Tulsa, Okla., when they take on Oral Roberts. Tipoff from the Mabee Center is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT. The game can be seen on SummitTV at www.thesummitleague.org.