INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Feb. 20 - Kaila Goff's 3-point basket with 12 seconds to play cut IUPUI's lead to two, but Caitlyn Sears' layup following a steal on a Jaguar inbound play didn't fall, allowing IUPUI to breath a sigh of relief as capture a 59-55 victory over the Thunderbirds. The loss drops the T-Birds to 6-20 overall and 4-11 in league play, while IUPUI snaps an eight-game losing streak and move to 3-23 overall and 2-13 in the Summit League.
The night began under unusual circumstances as freshman Tayler Anderson began the game wearing the wrong number, costing the Thunderbirds a technical foul. Kerah Nelson made both free throws to give the Jaguars a 2-0 lead even before the opening whistle.
However, a layup by Challis Pascucci and 3-point basket by Goff gave the Thunderbirds their first lead of the game, 5-4, early in the contest. The lead was short lived as SUU shooters turned cold, allowing IUPUI to put together a 20-5 run over the next ten minutes to take a 14-point lead (24-10) with 8:05 to play.
Southern Utah answered with a big run of its own down the stretch, finishing the half on a 15-7 run to pull the game to within six, 31-25, as the teams went into the locker rooms.
SUU trimmed the lead to two five times over the final 20 minutes, but just couldn't get over the hump to tie the game or take the lead. Southern Utah looked all but out of the game with just over 30 seconds to play and down by six (55-49) before back-to-back 3-point shots, followed by free throws left the T-Birds down two (57-55) with 12 seconds to play.
IUPUI turned the ball over on the very next play as Ebony Davis threw an errant pass on the inbounds play, as Sears stole the ball with ten seconds to go in the game. Sears then flew to the paint, but her reverse layup rolled off the back of the rim and out. A pair of free throws by Davis left the final score 59-55 at the final whistle.
Pascucci led Southern Utah with 17 points and 15 rebounds, while Sears added 19 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. Nelson led the Jaguars with 19 points and ten rebounds.
Southern Utah will be back in action on Monday night as the Thunderbirds play their final road game, facing the Western Illinois Fighting Leathernecks. Tip-off for that game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. (CT).
