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INDIANAPOLIS – For the second consecutive game, the IUPUI women’s basketball team forced 30-plus turnovers and
Janna Eichelberger collected a double-double, leading the Jaguars to a 65-48 victory over Southern Illinois Friday evening at The Jungle.
Twenty of the Salukis 31 turnovers resulted in steals for the Jaguars, something the team has had success in over the past three contests.
“Our ladies are starting to get stops on defense, which is creating easy offense for us,” said first-year head coach Austin Parkinson. “Tonight, [Del’Niqua} and Dawn [Luster] pressured the point and our wings were able to get in the passing lanes making it hard for them to get in their offense.”
Eichelberger led all players with 17 points and 10 rebounds, her second double-double in as many games.
“Janna is playing in her natural position right now and she is crafty around the basket,” Parkinson said. “She was our rock to lean on tonight and she is becoming more consistent for us.”
While Eichelberger’s numbers stood out, the slashing and timely buckets from
Jasmine Horne seemed to halt any momentum for the Salukis. Horne connected on 7-of-9 field goals resulting in a career-high 14 points.
After a sluggish start in which both teams hit just one field goal apiece in the first five minutes, the Jaguars frontcourt trio of #Clara Mitchell, Eichelberger, and
Demetria Nunley-Lash spurred an 8-0 run over a 1:17 stretch that put them in front, 10-2, with 13:50 on the clock.
A 6-0 response by Southern Illinois cut the IUPUI lead to 10-8 with 11:32 remaining in the half, before the Jags defensive intensity was lifted to a new level. From the 11:32 mark to the 4:21 mark, the Jaguars held the Salukis to one field goal while going on a 17-5 spurt that opened up a 27-13 lead.
Southern Illinois countered with a 12-2 run, cutting the IUPUI lead to four points with 1:25 to play in the opening period, but a bucket by Eichelberger and a layup by Luster in the final minute pushed the Jaguars lead to eight points, 33-25, entering halftime.
In the opening 9:10 of the second half, Southern Illinois chipped away at the IUPUI halftime lead and cut its deficit to six points, 42-36, with 10:51 on the clock.
From that point, the next 14 Jaguars points came from inside the paint or from the free throw line before a Gaskin jumper at the 6:45 mark capped off a 16-3 run, widening the IUPUI advantage to 58-39.
Twice the Jags were able to expand their lead to 20 points and from there they coasted to a 65-48 win.
With the win, IUPUI moved to 3-6 overall, equaling its win total from the 2009-10 campaign.
While one of the highlights for IUPUI was forcing 31 turnovers, the Jaguars committed a season-low 13 turnovers and dished out 17 assists.
“Our ladies effort was through the roof tonight and we are starting to see their confidence grow. Tonight everything started on the defensive end and offensively, we had our fewest turnovers this season resulting in extra possessions,” Parkinson added.
The Jaguars have a quick turnaround before returning to the floor on Sunday, Dec. 12, at St. Francis (NY). Sunday’s game will tip at 2 p.m. and the Jaguars will have a 15-day lay-off following Sunday’s contest before heading to Savannah State on Tuesday, Dec. 28.
