Turnovers Prove Costly in IUPUI Loss to Texas Southern

NORTHRIDGE, California -- The IUPUI women's basketball team outscored Texas Southern from the three-point and free throw line, but turnovers proved to be costly in a 71-61 loss to the Tigers Friday afternoon in the first game of the Radisson Chatsworth Thanksgiving Tournament hosted by Cal State Northridge.

Nevena Markovic led all players with 18 points and nine rebounds and Akilah Sims added 13 points, but four Tigers scored in double-figures led by Morgan Simmons' 16 points.

IUPUI (2-3) hit 41.2 percent of its three's on the night and outscored Texas Southern 22-12 at the free throw line, but it connected on just 28.1 percent of its looks inside the three-point line compared to the Tigers connecting on 48.1 percent of its shots inside the arc.

Additionally, the Jaguars committed a season-high 28 turnovers resulting in 32 points for TSU.

"I'm very disappointed in the level of toughness with this basketball team. We have to improve in taking care of the basketball and defending with pride," head coach Austin Parkinson said. "We look forward to coming back tomorrow and seeing if we can improve as a basketball team."

Both teams struggled shooting in the opening minutes, but Markovic was the lone exception scoring five of the Jaguars first 10 points to push them to a 10-4 lead six minutes in.

For the next 5:36, however, IUPUI went 0-for-6 from the floor and committed three turnovers aiding a 16-2 Texas Southern run that propelled it in front, 20-12, with 8:22 remaining. The only two Jags points during the run came on a pair of Markovic free throws.

The Tigers lead reached double-digits at 25-15, but two Kelsi Byrd triples in a two-minute span kept the Jaguars within two possessions, 27-21, with 4:48 on the clock. However, another cold spell ensued with IUPUI picking up just one field goal and a free throw over the final four-plus minutes allowing Texas Southern to finish the half on an 11-3 spurt to take a 38-24 cushion into the half.

Out of the break, the Jags went scoreless from the field for the first 4:13 before a Sims lay-up ended the drought, Despite their struggles, the Jags managed to score from the line to help trim its deficit to 10 points, 46-36, with 12:55 to play.

A Sims triple inched IUPUI within seven as the under-12 media approached, and the Jags remained seven down following a Mikale Rogers lay-up on the next possession, but the Jags wouldn't be able to get any closer.

Following that Rogers lay-up, IUPUI went more than six minutes without a field goal allowing Texas Southern to expand its lead back to double-figures at 60-44.

Two three's in the final minute 1:15 from Markovic helped the Jags bring their deficit to nine, 70-61, and a free throw from that point secured the 71-61 for Texas Southern.

The Jaguars will close the tournament on Saturday, Nov. 29, when they take on either Cal State Northridge or Montana State. The starting time will be determined at a later time.

Box Score 

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