SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – After holding serve through three quarters, the women's basketball team (20-10, 11-5) couldn't keep up the fight with Omaha (15-14, 8-9), falling behind in the fourth quarter and eventually losing 51-62 Sunday in the first round of the Summit League Tournament. 
 
The Jaguars were led by Mikale Rogers and Akilah Sims with 11 points each, while Shaquira Scott added 10 points and six rebounds.  As a team, IUPUI shot 20-for-63 (31.7 percent), including 6-for-23 (26.1 percent) from three-point range. 
 
The Jags' scoring was kicked off by Scott, who made a good move in the paint on an assist by Jenna Gunn to drop in a pair.  Mere moments later, it was Scott facilitating, finding Danielle Lawrence waiting beyond the arc.  Lawrence dropped in a triple to put the Jags' up early, 5-2.  Next trip down for IUPUI, the First-Team All-Summit League selection connected again, this time on a jumper inside the arc to grow the lead.  A 5-0 run by Omaha would tie the game, but the other First-Teamer for the Jags', Rogers, would end the run on a hook shot in front of the basket.  After a timeout, Gunn rifled down court on a fast break, pulling in a Scott pass and converting for a layup to make it 11-9.  Following her assist, Scott would answer an Omaha basket with a great fade away jumper from the left side to reclaim the lead.  Another tie would prompt another IUPUI response, as Gunn found the bottom of the net on a 10-foot shot from the right side with just 31 seconds left to go back on top.  Before the end of the quarter, Omaha would tie the game at 15-15.
 
The basket was cruel to both teams to start the second quarter, as it took 1:50 and several attempts from either team to crack the stalemate.  Scott would pull in a Kelsi Byrd pass from near-three point territory on the right side to finally put points up on the board, as IUPUI claimed a brief lead, 17-15.  After Omaha tied it, Nicole Rogers would put herself in the stat book, launching a three-pointer to break the lock in the seesaw contest.  Following a Jag' free throw, the teams would exchange three pointers, as Sims hit with 5:24 left to play.  The 6' 2" Rogers would toss in a layup after an Omaha triple giving the Jags' a three point cushion, 26-23.  After two Maverick free throws, the other Rogers would drop in her second three pointer, although Omaha would answer right back with one of their own as well a top-of-the-key jumper to deadlock the affair at 29 points each.  Another Maverick layup would stretch the 7-0 scoring run by Omaha, but Scott would answer back with her own close-ranger to tie it once again.  Martha Burse demonstrated lightning-speed on a quick play with 4 seconds left in the half, driving the length of the court and dropping in a layup that required extensive video replay review from the officials to confirm.  With the deuce, IUPUI would claim the lead at the break, 33-31.
 
Out of the break, Rogers would put up the first points 1:40 into the quarter, a layup on a quick move in the paint, to extend the IUPUI lead to four.   After an Omaha layup, Scott would hit a pair of free throws and Rogers would hit a long jumper to keep the spread as it was.  Omaha would reel off five-straight points as the Jags' shot 0-for-5 during the stretch, putting the Mavericks up by one.  It would take an extraordinary effort from the Jags' to break the draught, but Lawrence would answer the call after outstanding offensive rebounding from IUPUI to reclaim the lead.  Rogers would add two free throws to provide a small bit of cushion, 43-40.  That would be the last bucket in the gritty third period, as the Jags' would take a lead into the final frame. 
 
The Mavericks came out swinging in the fourth quarter, piecing together a 7-0 run and keeping IUPUI off the scoreboard through three minutes to take the lead, 43-47.  After an Omaha free throw, Sims would give the Jags' their first points in the fourth quarter through five minutes of play, a layup to cut the deficit to three.  A pair of Omaha free throws and a second-effort layup and a fast break conversion would give the Jags' their biggest deficit of the game, 45-54.  When all seemed lost, Sims offered a glimpse of hope, hitting a much-needed three point shot with three minutes left in regulation.  Sims would add another after a Maverick triple to keep it at a six-point game.  With time winding down, the Mavericks put in a pair of crunch-time free throws and played lock-down defense, negating any hopes of an IUPUI comeback.  The game would eventually end with Omaha on top, 51-62.
 
With the loss, the Jaguars were eliminated from the Summit League Tournament in the first round for the first time under head coach Austin Parkinson.