INDIANAPOLIS – A 14-0 run midway through the second half took a three-point game and put it out of reach as the IUPUI women's basketball team defeated Summit League leader South Dakota, 68-43,  Saturday evening at The Jungle.

IUPUI took control late in the first half only to have the Coyotes claw back within three in the second half before a double-digit run sealed the deal. The win improved the Jaguars to 9-11 overall and 4-3 in the league, while South Dakota fell to 15-5 overall and 5-2 in the conference.

Akilah Sims came off the bench to score 17 points, marking her second straight double-figure scoring effort after missing the three previous games. Kelsi Byrd added a career-high 16 points thanks in part to 4-of-6 shooting from three and Nevena Markovic tacked on 11 points.

While the Jags performed well offensively, it was their work on the defensive end that determined the outcome. USD entered the game shooting 36.4 percent from three and IUPUI held them to 15.4 percent (2-of-13), and the Jags converted 21 Coyotes turnovers into 30 points. The 43 points for South Dakota were a season low.

Four ties and four lead changes occurred in the first eight minutes as South Dakota took a 12-10 lead, but a 14-4 spurt featuring four points each from Byrd and Sims catapulted the Jags in front, 24-16, with 7:20 to go.

The Jags cushion fluctuated between six and nine points for the next six minutes until Sims buried a three from the right wing, her second of the opening half, to push the lead to double digits at 32-22.

Both teams had scoring opportunities in the final minute but failed to capitalize resulting in IUPUI carrying that 32-22 margin into the half.

Mikale Rogers scored the first four points of the second half to widen the Jaguars halftime lead to 14 points, but an 11-0 response from the Coyotes inched them within three with 14:45 to go.  

Coming out of the under-12 media timeout, the Jags pounded the ball inside and proceeded to go on a 14-0 run to take a 55-38 lead with just over eight minutes to play. During the run, Markovic scored seven points and Sims added five.

A three from Byrd with 5:42 on the clock extended the lead to 22 points, 62-40, and down the stretch the lead never dipped below 20 as the Jags finished off a 68-43 win.

Up next for the Jaguars is a trip to Macomb, Ill., on Thursday, Jan. 29, when the Jags take on Western Illinois. Tip is set for 8 p.m. ET.