FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Jan. 18 - Southern Utah stayed within four points of IPFW as the game opened on Monday night, but a shooting lull over the final eight minutes of the first half led to a 61-41 loss at the final whistle.  The loss drops the Thunderbirds to 4-14 overall and 2-5 in Summit League play, while IPFW moves to 8-9 on the year and 6-1 in conference play.

SUU remained in striking distance over the first 12 minutes of the opening stanza with the game tied on three occasions.  A Challis Pascucci jumper with eight minutes to play in the opening frame cut the IPFW advantage to 15-11, but 14-2 Mastodon run going into halftime set the score at 29-13.

A layup and 3-point basket by the Mastodons to open the second half put the T-Birds down 20 with that margin holding through the final half.  Southern Utah used pair of layups by Jamie Sagers and a free throw by Dani Hosking to close the game on a 5-0 run, but the margin was still 61-41 at the final whistle.

Pascucci led the Thunderbirds in scoring for the fourth consecutive game as the junior recorded 14 points and 13 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season.  IPFW was led by a pair of double-digit scorers as Stephanie Rosado recorded 17 points and Anne Boese tallied 16.

Southern Utah women's basketball will be back on the floor this weekend as the Thunderbirds begin a three-game home stand, beginning with the Western Illinois Fighting Leathernecks on Saturday night.