Box Score Box Score (.pdf) I Photo Gallery I Postgame Press Conference I Dawn Luster Postgame | Audio Highlights

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Emily Phillips came into the game with eight three-pointers on the season and the South Bend, Ind.-native drilled four and led the way with a career-high tying 17 points as IUPUI downed North Dakota State, 80-64, in the quarterfinals of the Summit League Women's Basketball Tournament at Sioux Falls Arena.

The win upped the Jaguars record to 13-18 on the season and gave head coach Austin Parkinson his first postseason win in his conference tournament debut.

Kerah Nelson came into the game as IUPUI's leading scorer averaging 16.6 ppg, but she didn't score until nearly 32 minutes into the game. Nelson finished with seven points and a team-high 10 boards, but she was picked up by her teammates.

In addition to Phillips' 17 points, Dawn Luster added 16 points, Nevena Markovic was perfect from the field and the line en route to 15 points, and Katie Comello chipped in 10 points and a career-high eight boards.

Both teams got off to a slow start before a quick 6-2 NDSU run put the Bison in front by that score just over four minutes in.
Two free throws by Janna Eichelberger at the 13:36 mark kick started the IUPUI offense as the Jags proceeded to hit three of their next four shots, including two floaters by Luster, to cut what was a seven-point deficit to three points, 16-13, with 10:57 on the clock.

Clara Mitchell put in an easy lay-up out of a break to bring IUPUI within one point, 16-15, but back-to-back buckets for Bison push lead back to five points, 20-15, with 8:24 to go.

After an Eichelberger driving lay-up with 6:11 tied the score at 25, a three by Phillips, two free throws apiece by Luster and Comello and a pull-up jumper from the top of the key by Phillips capped off a 9-0 run pushing IUPUI in front, 34-25, with 2:39.

Leading 36-30 following a Danielle DeGagne slashing lay-up, Phillips stepped up and buried a triple with 27 seconds on the clock and then found a way to get a desperation three-point heave to drop as time expired in the first half sending the Jags into the break leading 42-30.

The 42 first-half points were the most by IUPUI since scoring 56 in the opening half against Trine on Jan. 4.

The IUPUI lead fluctuated between nine and 14 points for the first 10 minutes of the second half until a lay-up by Janae Burich with 9:11 to go brought the Bison within eight points, 56-48.

Over the next 3:53, four different players scored in the midst of a 12-3 run, with four points apiece coming from Nelson and Markovic, widening the IUPUI advantage to 68-51.

After the Jags lead reached as many as 21 points, 74-53, NDSU made a last ditched effort and closed within 13 points, 74-61, with 2:16 to play, but that would be as close as the Bison got as a three by Phillips with 41 seconds to play capped off an 80-64 win.

With the win, IUPUI moved to 7-11 all-time in the Summit League Tournament and picked up its first-ever tournament win over North Dakota State.

Eichelberger, IUPUI's lone senior, came off the bench and added seven points and eight boards, while Mitchell played inspired in the post scoring eight points and snatching eight rebounds.

The Jags finished the game shooting 46.7 percent from the floor, 50.0 percent from three, and 80.0 percent from the line. Their eight made three's were one below its season high set against Oral Roberts on Jan. 14.

IUPUI faces a tall task on Monday, March 4, when it meets the top-seeded Jackrabbits of South Dakota State at 1 p.m. ET in the semifinals. Scott McCauley will have the call on IUPUIJags.com at 1 p.m., and the game will be picked up in the Indianapolis area on Hometown Sports and News (RTV 6.2).