Purdue Fort Wayne
Western Illinois
Jackson's Career Night Leads Mastodons to 17-Point Win
2/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 21, 2009
Macomb, IL - Behind a career-high 27 points from sophomore Chelsey Jackson, the IPFW Mastodons (6-20, 5-10 Summit League) kept themselves in the mix for a Summit League Tournament berth, topping the Westerwinds of Western Illinois by a 78-61 score on Saturday afternoon.
Jackson's 27 points came on 11-of-14 shooting from the field (78.6%), including 3-of-4 on three-point shots, while Zuppe made 5-of-7 from long range, and 8-of-13 overall en route to her 21 points. Nanyamka Moore, in her first starting role of the season, and just the 15th of her career, scored a season-high 11 points, while dishing out three assists and picking up three steals. Sarah Haluska and Zuppe each pulled down five rebounds to pace the squad, with Jackson's four assists providing top honors on the squad.
The first time these two teams met on the hardwood, in Fort Wayne on January 26, IPFW struggled from the field, making just 18-of-60 shots (30.0 percent), and just 18.8 percent (6-of-32) from long range, yet holding on for the victory. Tonight's out-burst was quite the different story, as the `Dons made 30-of-48 shots (62.5 percent), which ranks as the fifth best single-game total in school history, while their 13-of-21 (61.9 percent) performance from long range is the fourth best long-range shooting night in school history.
The 13 made three-point baskets is the second highest total this season, and tied for the ninth most in a game in program history.
Western Illinois (9-18, 7-9 Summit League) jumped out to quick leads of 2-0 and 4-3, before IPFW scored four straight points on baskets by Jordan Zuppe, and never trailed again in the game. The Westerwinds closed the gap to two, with 14:05 to play, before IPFW ran off a 10-1 run, and later used another 7-0 run to push ahead by 17 with just over six minutes remaining in the half.
The Westerwinds twice closed the gap to single digits, with the latest coming with 26 seconds on the clock at 41-32 before Haluska nailed a three-point basket as the halftime buzzer sounded to send the `Dons into the locker room with a 44-32 halftime lead.
The second half advantage never closed into single digits, as IPFW led by as many as 20 in the second half in the lopsided 78-61 Summit League victory.
IPFW fell in the rebounding battle, corralling 23 rebounds, one fewer than the Westerwinds', while finishing with one more turnover, 18-to-17.
In the clustered mess that is the race for a top-eight finish and a spot in the upcoming Summit League Tournament, there are three teams each tied at 5-10, and seventh in the standings: IPFW, Oral Roberts, and Southern Utah. UMKC, which fell to ORU earlier tonight, is just one game ahead of the three-way tie in sixth place, with Western Illinois, now at 7-9 in the league, sitting a game and a half ahead of the `Dons and in fifth overall.
Four teams, South Dakota State (15-1), Oakland (13-2), North Dakota State (10-6), and IUPUI (9-7), have already secured their spot into the tournament, making the final four spots even more important among the six remaining teams.
IPFW travels to Indianapolis, to face off against the Jaguars of IUPUI on Monday night with a 7:00 PM tip-ff at the Jungle, as the other two teams tied for seventh, Oral Roberts and Southern Utah, battle in Cedar City.
~Dons~
