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INDIANAPOLIS – Opening up the first of their final two games of the regular season, the IUPUI women's basketball team (20-7, 10-4) will welcome the top standing South Dakota Coyotes (22-5, 11-3) in a crucial matchup Wednesday night (Feb. 22) at 7 p.m. EST in the Jungle. Just a game out of first place, the Jags have a chance to greatly alter the standings leading up to the Summit League Tournament in Sioux Falls, South Dakota (March 4-7).
A big-time matchup of the two best shooting teams in the Summit League, IUPUI comes into the contest averaging 67.3 points per game while shooting .441 from the field. The Jags are also the second-best shooting team from three-point range, going .388 from beyond the arc.
Danielle Lawrence has led the offense with 16.3 points per game, while teammate
Mikale Rogers is netting 13.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, while ranking second in the League with 65 blocks. The Jaguars own a +10.4 point differential this season.
Catching fire at the right time, IUPUI has won nine of its last 10 games, including two road wins over their last three games. Most recently, the Jags are coming off a 76-53 win over North Dakota State in Fargo, North Dakota this past weekend. The Jags faced the Coyotes earlier in the season, falling to South Dakota 62-75 in Vermillion, South Dakota. Rogers led her team with 21 points in that game, going 9-for-18 from the field with six rebounds. Lawrence added 17 points on 7-for-14 shooting. Ciara Duffy led the way for the 'Yotes, netting 22 points in the win.
South Dakota has won three games in a row and are coming off a 91-56 blowout victory over Omaha at home. After winning the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) last season, the Coyotes have seen heightened success again this year and have climbed to No. 6 in the CollegeInsider Mid-Major Top-25 poll. According to the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), the 'Yotes are the 63rd team in the nation, with the Jags just behind them at 66.
The Jags last topped the Coyotes at home during the 2014-15 season, with IUPUI putting up a 68-43 showing in the contest. Since then, IUPUI has lost four-straight against USD.
In home games this season, the Jags have put up a perfect 6-0 record against Summit League opponents, going 11-2 overall.
The game will feature live video coverage available for free, with a link to the action here.
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