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INDIANAPOLIS -- After a frustrating weekend, the IUPUI women's basketball had fun taking out their aggression on IU-Southeast.  The Jaguars forced 30 turnovers, helping them cruise to a 61-44 win over the Grenadiers on Wednesday night at The Jungle.

IUPUI (1-6) was led by Kerah Nelson, who matched her career high with 21 points on 8-for-14 shooting.  Jessica Huffman and Clara Mitchell joined Nelson in double figures with 14 and 12 points, respectively. 

"We played better tonight," head coach Shann Hart said following the game.  "Obviously we're not happy about the [20] turnovers, but we played with more hustle and intensity and energy than we had been playing with, and it helped us tonight."

Mitchell was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line as IUPUI went 22-for-37 from the charity stripe, outscoring IU-Southeast (6-3) by 13 points from the line.

After the Grenadiers took an early 3-0 lead, the Jaguars seized control of the game, launching a 21-0 run with a barrage of steals, coming away with five takeaways during the next 6:21.  Two Gretchen Gaskin free throws - a direct result of her steal at midcourt - gave IUPUI a 21-3 lead with 12:24 left in the half.

IUPUI would need the cushion, as they went through a seven-minute scoreless drought after the freebies, finally boosting their tally to 23-8 after a Mitchell turnaround jumper.  Still, the Jaguars' defense limited IU-Southeast to 3-for-9 shooting over that stretch, and the Grenadiers shot just 20.8-percent in the first half, helping IUPUI take a 34-16 lead into the half.

The Jaguars came out sluggish to start the final 20 minutes of play, allowing IU-Southeast to climb within 11 just three minutes into the half, prompting Hart to call a timeout and refocus the young squad.

IUPUI responded, holding the Grenadiers without a point over the next 4:16; during that stretch the Jaguars built their lead back to 17, effectively eliminating the suspense in the contest.

For the game, the Jaguars had 19 steals, led by Gaskin's five.  Ebony Davis was the only other Jaguars with more than two steals, coming up with four.

"We'll take it," Hart said.  "We needed a win - no doubt about that.  We're progressing, and this weekend will be a good test of our team."

IUPUI will open Summit League play on Saturday, Dec. 5, when they host North Dakota State.  Tip-off from The Jungle is slated for 4:30 p.m., with Scott Taylor (play-by-play) on the call of the game at IUPUIJags.com.  The first 90 students at the game will receive a free Red Zone student section t-shirt.