Box Score | Postgame Press Conference | Nevena Markovic Postgame | Photo Gallery | Highlights

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Kerah Nelson scored a game-high 18 points, DeAirra Goss grabbed a career-high and game-high 12 rebounds, and both players recorded double-doubles leading the IUPUI women’s basketball team to a 59-47 win over Kansas City in the Summit League Tournament quarterfinals Saturday afternoon at Sioux Falls Arena in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Nelson hit 6-of-11 shots en route to her 18 points and added 10 rebounds, while Goss scored 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to send IUPUI to its 20th win of the season, marking the first time since the Jags joined the Division-I ranks during the 1998-99 season that they have reached 20 wins in a season.

In addition to Nelson and Goss, Nevena Markovic came up just short of a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds. Thanks to IUPUI’s trio of Markovic, Goss and Nelson, the Jags outrebounded the Kangaroos, 47-27. Of IUPUI’s 47 rebounds, 23 were offensive leading to a 24-4 edge in second-chance points.

Even though shots weren’t falling for IUPUI early, the Jaguars defense was locked in forcing Kansas City to go 1-of-12 from the field over the first 8:38 resulting in a 9-2 IUPUI lead by the second media timeout.

The Kangaroos hit back-to-back buckets to close within three, 9-6, with 10:07 to play, but an 11-1 IUPUI run from the 8:40 mark to the 4:44 mark put the Jags in front, 20-7. Nelson highlighted the run with two triples and seven total points.

Over the final four minutes, four points from Goss, a three from Nicole Rogers and two free throws from Clara Mitchell sent the Jags into halftime with a 29-11 lead.

The 11 points scored by Kansas City were the fewest first-half points allowed by the Jags since giving up 10 to Goshen College back on Dec. 9, 2012.

It only took Kansas City 5:10 in the second half to match their first-half scoring output, but a Nelson lay-up with the shot clock winding down preceded a Dawn Luster three at the top of the arc to give the Jags a 42-22 lead with 13:05 to play.

The Kangaroos made a run to close within 11, 45-34, with 7:51 to play, but just as the ‘Roos appeared that they could close within single digits, Markovic hit a reverse lay-up and Goss scored on a put-back to up the lead back to 15, 49-34, with 5:56 to play.

The Kangaroos mounted another charge by closing within seven, 50-43, with 2:53 to play, but the Jags made enough free throws down the stretch to hold on to the 59-47 win.

The double-doubles from Nelson and Goss marked the first time a team had two players from the same team record double-doubles in a Summit League Tournament game since the 2008 Summit League Tournament. That year, IUPUI’s Jernisha Cann and Julia Whitted both registered double-doubles.

IUPUI continues the Summit League Tournament on Monday, March 11, when they take on either the No. 3 seed South Dakota Coyotes or the No. 6 seed North Dakota State Bison. IUPUI’s Summit League semifinal game on Monday is set to tip at 3:30 p.m. EST.