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INDIANAPOLIS - IUPUI looks to even its conference record when it hosts UMKC on Monday, Feb. 20, in its final home game of the 2011-12 season. Tip is set for 7 p.m. and Scott McCauley will have the call on IUPUIJags.com.
 
SCOUTING THE KANGAROOS

• UMKC is coming off an 84-69 win over Western Illinois on Saturday to improve its record to 17-10 overall and 8-7 in conference action.
• UMKC is the third-highest scoring team in the Summit League averaging 70.6 ppg in league-only games.
• Three players are scoring in double figures for the Kangaroos led by Dayon Hall-Jones and her 17.4 ppg.
• Kim Nezianya and Eilise O’Connor are also adding 11.1 and 10.2 ppg, respectively, with Nezianya also leading the team in rebounding with 7.3.
• In addition to her scoring, O’Connor also leads the team in assists averaging 4.8 apg.

 
ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST UMKC

• Monday’s meeting between the two schools will be the 29th in series history.
• The series is tied at 14, with UMKC winning the first meeting between the schools, 63-55, earlier this season.
• IUPUI is 8-5 all-time against UMKC when playing in Indianapolis.

 
A LOOK BACK AT THE LAST GAME

• South Dakota entered Saturday’s game on an eight-game winning streak, but that ended Saturday evening in The Jungle as IUPUI 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.
• 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.
• 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.

 
CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT BERTH

• With three games left to play, the Jags have already secured a spot in the 2012 Summit League Tournament.
• After missing out on the tournament the past two years, the Jaguars will be making their first trip to the conference tournament since the 2008-09 season.
• Only one player on IUPUI’s roster, Janna Eichelberger, has played in a Summit League Tournament game.

 
DEFENSE AND REBOUNDING

• Two key components to IUPUI’s success in conference-only games this season has been its defensive pressure and rebounding.
• In its seven conference wins, the Jags have not allowed more than 64 points and have held opponents to 50 points or less in five of those seven wins.
• IUPUI has also controlled the boards in conference wins averaging 40.6, led by Kerah Nelson’s 8.0 rpg and Nevena Markovic’s 6.7 rpg.
• The Jags are grabbing an impressive 76.5 percent of their opponent’s misses leading to a +5.2 rebounding margin.
• Due to their pressure, IUPUI is also averaging 9.9 spg.