BROOKINGS, S.D. – Despite double-doubles from Jernisha Cann and Julia Whitted, the IUPUI women’s basketball team was buried in a flurry of three-pointers, falling 68-44 to South Dakota State Monday evening at Frost Arena.

IUPUI (11-14, 7-6 Summit) suffered their first road sweep in Summit League play, as well as their first loss on Monday night this season, falling to 5-1. Cann posted her ninth double-double of the year with 17 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Whitted contributed 13 points and 10 boards before fouling out with 3:02 remaining.

Still, the story of the game was South Dakota State’s (18-6, 11-2 Summit) three-point shooting, as the Jackrabbits shot 62.5% from three-point range, hitting 10-of-16 long balls.

Ketty Cornemann matched her career high with 19 points, connecting of 5-of-5 three-pointers.  Cornemann entered tonight's game having knocked down 3-of-18 three-point field-goal attempts in Summit League play.

On the Jaguars's end, they connected on 1-of-10 long balls, hitting their only three-point field goal of the night with 2:23 to play, when Nicole James knocked down a three from the corner.

While the temperature outside hovered around 0^o, South Dakota State sunk IUPUI with three-pointers in the first half. Coming out of the gates firing, the Jackrabbits first three field goals were all from behind the three-point arc, enabling them to open a 13-4 advantage just 3:46 into the game.

All three long-range bombs came from Ketty Cornemann, who entered the game with just three three-pointers in her career in 18 attempts.

Midway through the half, the Jaguars began to claw their way back into the game. Cann led the way for the Jaguars, finding holes in the paint to score 10 points in the first 20 minutes. Whitted had 7 points and 8 rebounds, albeit on 3-of-10 shooting.

Closing to within six points on two occasions, the Jags were not able to narrow the gap from there, as South Dakota State used a long three from Kristin Rotert to move ahead, 28-19, on their way to taking a 34-21 halftime lead.

While IUPUI slowly tried to come back in the game, South Dakota State systematically put the game away with four threes in the second half, each one seemingly answering every Jaguar field goal with a three-point field goal of their own.

Early in the second half, a Whitted jumper reduced the SDSU lead to nine, but following a Jaguar turnover, a three from Kristin Rotert pushed the lead to 12, and it gradually grew to the final margin.

With the loss, the Jaguars slipped into a tie for fifth place in The Summit. At 7-6, IUPUI is tied with IPFW and Oakland; however, due to North Dakota State being ineligible for the conference tournament, the Jags are currently tied for the No. 4 seed overall. 

The Jaguars will return to Indianapolis tomorrow in preparation for Saturday’s key Summit League tilt against Oral Roberts. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., with IUPUI hosting a ‘Think Pink’ theme that afternoon. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game, as the Jaguars raise breast cancer awareness.

The game can be viewed on SummitTV via www.thesummitleague.org. The men’s game versus Oral Roberts will begin approximately 30 minutes after the women’s game concludes.