INDIANAPOLIS – It was a back-and-forth game that featured eight ties and 13 lead changes, but the IUPUI women's basketball team just couldn't get over the hump as it dropped a 69-62 decision to Western Illinois Saturday afternoon at The Jungle.
 
The loss dropped IUPUI to 12-13 overall and 7-5 in The Summit League, while the Leathernecks improved to 16-9 overall and 8-4 in the conference.
 
Akilah Sims recorded the fourth double-double of her career and her second of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Nevena Markovic added 13 points. Collectively, IUPUI made more field goals than WIU and held them to two three's, but the Leathernecks went 15-19 from the line compared to IUPUI hitting just 6-of-14 from the stripe.
 
The first half was played at a frenetic pace and the Leathernecks took advantage early on starting 5-of-8 from the field to take an 11-4 lead by the first media timeout. Over the next five minutes, however, the Jags would go on an 11-2 response of their own to take their first lead of the game at 15-13.
 
With 5:56 to go, two Ashley Luke free throws put WIU back in front 21-18, but buckets by Sims and Danielle Lawrence catapulted the Jags in position, 22-21, with a little more than four minutes to play.
 
Western Illinois was able to grow its lead back to four on a Michelle Maher three with 34 seconds on the clock, but Sims got a lay-up to drop with nine seconds to play to trim IUPUI's deficit to 30-28 entering halftime.
 
Five straight points from Caitlyn Tolen allowed the Jags to take their first lead of the second half with just under 15 minutes to go, but the Leathernecks were again able to retaliate by moving their lead to six, 47-41, with 10:45 on the clock.
 
An 8-0 IUPUI run ensued - with all eight points coming in the paint - to place the Jags back in front, 49-47, with 6:45 left, but five straight points from Luke moved the Leathernecks into the lead, 52-49.
 
The see-saw battle continued, but every time the Jags had a chance to tie it up the Leathernecks forced a turnover or got a bucket to remain in front.
 
A Markovic jumper with 1:02 to play brought IUPUI within two, 60-58, but Luke buried a baseline jumper on the other end and a Jaguars miss turned into a Leathernecks free throw to open a 63-58 margin.
 
From that point the Jags had to foul down the stretch and Western Illinois made those free throws to eventually pull out a 69-62 win.
 
Up next for the Jaguars is a game at The Jungle on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 7 p.m. ET against North Dakota State.