INDIANAPOLIS – A 31-6 run spanning from the 6:30 mark of the first half to the 15:00 minute mark of the second half propelled the IUPUI women's basketball team to a 71-54 victory over Denver in Summit League action Thursday evening at Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
Thursday's game was the first game for the Jags at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum since they took on then-No. 11/12 Louisville in the season opener. That night, the Jaguars shot 57.4 percent in the second half and that hot shooting continued against the Pioneers as IUPUI shot 45.5 percent from the field, including 50.0 percent in the second half.
Shaquira Scott led the way with 22 points, her second 20-plus point outing this season, and she was joined in double figures by
Jenna Gunn and
Akilah Sims who added 13 and 12 points, respectively.
Throughout the season, IUPUI has won the rebounding battle, but over the last three games the opponents had won the battle of the boards playing a key role in two losses. Behind Gunn's eight rebounds, the Jags returned to form on Thursday winning the rebounding battle 39-28, which included 15 offensive boards.
Scott scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds in the opening eight minutes to keep the Jags within striking distance as Denver connected on seven of its first 11 shots from the field, including 3-of-4 from three, to take an 18-10 advantage.
After nearly a three-game absence due to injury, Sims came in and made an immediate impact scoring or assisting on the Jags next four baskets as they were able to close within three, 22-19, with 7:45 on the clock.
After the Pioneers pushed their lead back to six at 27-21, with 6:29 remaining, IUPUI clamped down on defensive and went on a 15-4 run to close the half sending it into the break with a 36-31 lead. The run was highlighted by two three's in the final 1:15 from Sims which gave her 10 first-half points in just nine minutes of work.
That momentum gained from the end of the first half carried into the first five minutes of the second half as the Jags went on a 16-2 spurt to open a 52-33 advantage.
The hot shooting continued for IUPUI as it was able to up its lead to 30, 68-38, with a little more than seven minutes to go giving it its largest lead of the game.
From that point the outcome was never in doubt as the Jags finished off the 71-54 win.
Up next for the Jaguars is a meeting against South Dakota at The Jungle on Saturday, Jan. 24. Tip is set for 7 p.m.
