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BROOKINGS, S.D. – Kerah Nelson scored a game-high 21 points and added seven rebounds, but a late rally by South Dakota State closed out a 66-52 victory for the Jackrabbits Saturday evening at Frost Arena.

The loss dropped the Jaguars to 12-17 on the season and 7-10 in conference play, while the Jackrabbits improved to 20-8 overall and 15-2 in the Summit League, clinching the regular-season title for South Dakota State.

“This is one of the toughest places to play in our conference and our ladies fought to the end and we put ourselves in position to win the game, but we just ran out of bodies and they just made plays at the end of the game,” said head coach Austin Parkinson.

SDSU got to the line often and converted 23-of-25 attempts from the line compared to just 4-of-7 for the Jaguars.

“We have to do a better job of recognizing how to adjust to the flow of the game, but we competed at a high level and at the end of the day we lost to a very good South Dakota State basketball team,” Parkinson added.

IUPUI fell behind 8-0 over the first 4:30, before Emily Phillips buried a jumper to get the Jags on the board.

However, the Jackrabbits would go on to methodically build a 13-point lead, 28-15, with 5:35 to play, before the Jags made a late rally.

Over the next three minutes, the Jaguars went on a 12-3 run to close within for points, 31-27, with just over 2:30 to go in the opening half.

A 6-0 run in the final minutes for SDSU pushed the Jackrabbits lead to double digits, 37-27 entering halftime.

Out of the break, Dawn Luster and Nelson combined to score the Jaguars first 13 points of the second half, with Nelson scoring eight of the 13 points, bringing the Jags within a possession five minutes in.

Every time it looked like South Dakota State could extend its lead into double digits, IUPUI made a run and a Katie Comello triple with 4:05 to play kept the Jags within four points, 54-50.

Unfortunately, senior Jill Young scored nine of SDSU’s final 12 points in the final four minutes during a 12-2 run closing out a 66-52 victory for the Jackrabbits.

The Jags conclude their 2011-12 regular season on Monday, Feb. 27, in Fargo, N.D., against North Dakota State. Scott McCauley will have the call on IUPUIJags.com and tip is set for 8 p.m. ET.