Rosado's Double-Double Sends IPFW Past South Dakota

Thursday, December 1

Fort Wayne, Ind.

5:30 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

3-4

South Dakota

4-1

South Dakota

IPFW

Photo by: Lucas Carter

Rosado's Double-Double Sends IPFW Past South Dakota

12/1/2011 10:27:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

BOX SCORE

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Led by Stephanie Rosado's 23 points and 10 rebounds, the IPFW women's basketball team opened conference play with a 65-63 win over South Dakota Thursday evening at the War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne.

The Mastodons are now 3-4 (1-0) overall and 3-2 at home this season. South Dakota falls for the first time in 2011, dropping to 4-1 (0-1).

The teams traded baskets in the early going, before Rosado found her grove inside to jump start a 12-1 Mastodon run to take an eight point lead at 18-10. Another layup by the senior a short time later, followed by a pair of Erin Murphy free throws gave IPFW its biggest advantage of 10 at 24-14 with five minutes remaining in the opening period.

South Dakota's Amber Hegge brought the visitors back before halftime with 15 first-half points to cut the 'Don lead to two at 31-29 heading into the break.

IPFW regained the game's momentum early in the second half, when Anne Boese knocked down a jumper, before Murphy drove the lane and scored a layup to give the home team a six-point lead at 46-40. The Mastodons would continue to push the tempo throughout the half and increase their advantage to 14 at 58-44.

Led by Hegge, who totaled a team-best 21 points on the evening, the Coyotes rallied and pulled within four at 64-60 with 10 seconds remaining in the contest. However, a quick South Dakota foul sent Murphy to the line, where the sophomore drained two clutch free throws to seal the 65-63 Mastodon victory.

Rosado scored a game-high 23 points to lead the 'Dons. Murphy recorded 18 points and four rebounds, while Boese totaled 12. IPFW shot 50% (24-48) from the field and outrebounded South Dakota 35-29.

The Mastodons will return to action on Saturday, Dec. 3, when they welcome UMKC to the War Memorial Coliseum for a 4 p.m. tipoff.

~Dons~