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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- With nine newcomers on the active roster and eight dressing for their matchup with #3 Ohio State, the IUPUI women's basketball team knew their would be some growing pains. Along with those pains comes valuable experience, however, and the Jaguars gained a measure of it the hard way in an 88-33 loss to the Buckeyes in the opening round of the Buckeye Classic at St. John Arena.
IUPUI (0-5) committed 29 turnovers in the contest, which led to 36 Ohio State (7-0) points; the Jaguars were handed a valuable lesson about ball security as the Buckeyes had just 6 turnovers for the game.
Clara Mitchell, making her first career start for IUPUI, had 8 points to lead the Jaguars, who shot just 15-for-57 for the game. Samantha Prahalis, who was Big ten co-Player of the Week last week, posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 assists.
"That's one of coach [Jim] Foster's best teams by far," coach
Shann Hart said. "They do a really good job in transition. They forced us into 29 turnovers. When they really get their defense down, they've got a good chance of being a Final Four contender."
Mitchell and
Kerah Nelson got the Jaguars off on the right foot with layups on IUPUI's first two possessions, giving the Jags an early 4-2 lead, but a 14-2 Ohio State run quickly gave the Buckeyes control of the game.
The Jaguars became the first team this year to limit Preseason All-American Jantel Lavender to under 20 points this year, holding the 6-foot-4 center to 12 points on 5-for-15 shooting.
IUPUI's 33 points were their lowest total since moving to Division I.
Alyse Poindexter grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds for the Jaguars, who will meet Southern University in the consolation game of the Buckeye Classic on Sunday at 11:30 a.m.. Scott Taylor will have the call of the game on IUPUIJags.com, with pregame coverage starting roughly 10 minutes prior to tip-off.