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INDIANAPOLIS – South Dakota entered Saturday’s game on an eight-game winning streak, but that ended Saturday evening in The Jungle as the IUPUI women’s basketball team received a 21-point, nine-rebound effort from Kerah Nelson, and held the Coyotes to 26.9 percent shooting for the game to pick up a 52-42 victory.

The win improved IUPUI’s record to 12-15 overall and 7-8 in the Summit League, while USD fell to 18-7 overall and 9-6 in conference play.

It was a defensive battle from the start, but the Jaguars forced South Dakota into a season-high 25 turnovers resulting in 20 points off turnovers which ultimately proved to be the difference.

“They were a really hot basketball team and Coach Williams does one of the best jobs in the league at coaching his team,” said head coach Austin Parkinson. “They play great defense and know what their opponents’ strengths and weaknesses are – so for us to be able to fight and fight and pull out a win was great. We just had enough energy and made enough plays at the end.”

Nelson went up against one of the tallest front lines in the Summit league in Amber Hegge and Jodie Boss, who combined for 14 blocks on the evening. Despite the blocks, Nelson battled all night long and fought for her 21 points and nine boards ultimately leading the Jags to the victory.

“I was really pleased with Kerah Nelson’s defense. At their place, Hegge was able to get 30 points and tonight she had five. Obviously it was a team effort, but Kerah not only went out and scored for us, but she guarded what I think is the best player in the league,” Parkinson said.

The first half was physical and both teams turned up the defensive pressure from the start. The Jags missed their first five shots from the floor as USD jumped out to a 7-0 lead four minutes in.

The South Dakota lead was at six following a Jodie Boss lay-up with 8:48 to play in the opening half, but the Jags held the Coyotes scoreless for the next 7:03 to get back in the game.

During that scoreless stretch for USD, Nelson buried a three and both Nevena Markovic and Katie Comello combined to hit all four of their free throws giving IUPUI a 16-15 lead, its first lead of the game.

A quick 5-0 response placed South Dakota back in front, 20-16, with 1:18 to go, but a Dawn Luster lay-up with 23 seconds to play cut the Jags deficit in half, 20-18, heading into the half.

The Jags hit five of their first eight shots out of halftime, including two old-fashioned three-point plays from Nelson, catapulting them in front 30-25 with 15:05 to play.

With its lead still at five, 34-29, a quick 7-1 run fueled by a pair of Nelson buckets and a Comello triple, widened the lead back to 11 points, 41-30, with 10 minutes to go.

The Coyotes pulled within seven twice, with the last at 47-40, with 5:03 to play, but the IUPUI defense held USD without a field goal for the next 4:09 and used a Markovic jumper and two Emily Phillips free throws to balloon its lead back to double figures, 51-40, with under a minute to play.

From that point, the Jags went on to close out a 52-42 win over the Coyotes.

Markovic and Comello each chipped on seven points, while Emily Phillips added six and three assists. Luster led the squad in steals with five, while Phillips tacked on four.

Prior to the game, Janna Eichelberger was honored as the Jaguars celebrated senior night. The West Columbia, S.C.-native played 18 minutes and grabbed four boards and added an assist, a block, and a steal in the victory.

IUPUI closes out its home schedule on Monday, Feb. 20, when it hosts UMKC at 7 p.m. in The Jungle. Scott McCauley will have the call on IUPUIJags.com.