VERMILLION, S.D. – The IUPUI women's basketball team was confident heading into Thursday evening's road contest at Summit League leader South Dakota considering it had won its last two road games, but turnovers proved to be the difference as the Coyotes handed the Jaguars a 69-53 loss at the Dakota Dome.

The win improved USD to 22-6 overall and 12-3 in the conference, and secured the Coyotes at least a share of the Summit League regular-season title. IUPUI dropped to 14-14 overall and 9-6 in the league. The Jaguars still remain in a tie for the third spot in the conference standings following a South Dakota State win over Western Illinois in Brookings, S.D., on Thursday.

Shaquira Scott and Jenna Gunn both scored in double-figures scoring 11 points and 10 points, respectively, but as a team IUPUI shot 34.6 percent from the field, including 18.2 percent from three. Akilah Sims, who had scored 10 or more points in nine straight games had that streak snapped after chipping in eight points.

Nicole Seekamp led USD with 13 points, and Lisa Loeffler added 10. Five other Coyotes scored either eight or nine points. South Dakota shot 43.3 percent from the field and only coughed the ball up eight times en route to the win.

"You have to give credit to USD with how they approached the game. They played hard and executed their game plan. When we play together we are fun to watch, but when we play as individuals you get a result like we had tonight," head coach Austin Parkinson said. "I was proud of [Shawnece Teague] coming in and defending by blocking three shots. I also thought Jenna competed at both ends of the floor."

In its first possession, Sims buried a jumper of a find from Nevena Markovic to give IUPUI a 2-0 lead, but that lead would be its only lead of the night. During the next 6:33, the Coyotes went on an 18-3 run to take a double-digit lead before a Caitlyn Tolen three would finally break the run.

Over the next six minutes the Jags would close within seven on a pair of occasions, with the last coming at the 7:18 mark on a jumper from Shaquira Scott, but a Seekamp three with four minutes to play in the opening half pushed the USD lead back to 13 points, 31-18, forcing Parkinson to burn a timeout.

Still facing that 13-point deficit with 90 seconds to play, the Jags picked up four points from Gunn in the final minute and a half to off-set a Lisa Loefler jumper making their deficit 11 points at 37-26.

Looking to close within single digits out of the break, the Jags just couldn't muster a surge as seven turnovers in the first nine minutes of the second half aided a South Dakota run that allowed it to widen its halftime lead to 17 points, 51-34.

The Coyotes cushion reached 21 points with 9:34 to go, but five points from Sims during an 8-3 Jags run gave them some momentum at the under-eight minute media timeout.

Unfortunately, just two more points over the next four minutes gave South Dakota an opportunity to put the game away and it did just that as it slid its lead to 23 points, 67-44, with 3:35 to play.

From that point, the Coyotes closed out a 69-53 win.

IUPUI closes out the regular-season on Saturday, Feb. 28, when it takes on South Dakota State in Brookings, S.D. Tip is set for 3 p.m. ET.