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Southern Utah University Athletics

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SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS
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Southern Utah Drops Exhibition Opener to Dixie State 59-53

Women's Basketball Southern Utah Athletics

Southern Utah Falls on the Road to IUPUI 68-47

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Jan. 3 - Southern Utah's Challis Pascucci turned in a career-high 17 points, but it wasn't enough as the Thunderbirds fell 47-68 at IUPUI on Saturday night.  The loss drops the T-Birds to 5-8 on the season and 1-2 in league play, while IUPUI moves to 7-6 on the year and a perfect 2-0 in Summit League play.

SUU struggled to find its shot during the first 20 minutes as IUPUI began the game on an 8-0 run while the T-Birds went 0-of-4 and committed four turnovers during the same stretch.

Pascucci finally broke through for the 'Birds at the 15:29 mark on an easy lay-up created by a steal by Caitlyn Sears.  Southern Utah chipped into the IUPUI lead to get to within three (8-11)  on a Sears' jumper, but the Jaguars countered with a 7-0 run capped by a Nicole James jumper to put the advantage back into double digits (8-18).

Back-to-back buckets by the Anne Westwood Higbee and Sears pulled the game to within six, but the Jaguars answered with back-to-back baskets of their own and carried the double-digit lead (35-20) into the locker rooms.

Shooting woes continued for the Thunderbirds during the second half as the team shot 33 percent from the field.  Despite the lull, Southern Utah pulled to within nine (36-45) on a pair of Pascucci free throws, but another slow spell over the next three minutes allowed the Jaguars to build another double digit lead.

The double-digit advantage held throughout the remainder of the game with IUPUI claiming the 68-47 victory at the final whistle.

Pascucci was the lone double-digit scorer for the T-Birds, while Jernisha Cann (14), Brittany Ransom (10) and Julia Whitted (10) each turned in double digits for the Jaguars.  Cann capped off her double-double night with 11 rebounds.

Southern Utah will continue its current conference road swing at Western Illinois on Monday night.
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Players Mentioned

Challis Pascucci

#24 Challis Pascucci

F
6' 2"
Sophomore
Caitlyn Sears

#32 Caitlyn Sears

G/F
5' 10"
Sophomore
Anne Westwood Higbee

#21 Anne Westwood Higbee

F/C
6' 1"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Challis Pascucci

#24 Challis Pascucci

6' 2"
Sophomore
F
Caitlyn Sears

#32 Caitlyn Sears

5' 10"
Sophomore
G/F
Anne Westwood Higbee

#21 Anne Westwood Higbee

6' 1"
Senior
F/C