MACOMB, Ill. – It took 45 minutes but IUPUI found its revenge after failing to secure a 14-point halftime advantage the last time these two teams met in Indianapolis. Western Illinois women's basketball (7-13, 4-6) attempted to stage a comeback but fell short and IUPUI (9-13, 4-6) would take the game, 68-64 in overtime.

Western trailed by as many as 13 and led by as many as four in a game with seven lead changes and four ties.

IUPUI used 55 rebounds and 10 second-chance points to earn the Summit League victory. Kerah Nelson led all scorers with 20 points while Nevena Markovic recorded a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds.

Valencia Kelly led the Leathernecks with 16 points and seven boards. Sadie Webb finished with 13 while Saule Kontautaite poured in 12 points. Karis Phillips played 20 minutes and chipped in nine points while providing needed energy in the second stanza as well as overtime.

The Leathernecks struggled from the field hitting just two of its first seven attempts early but did have a 6-5 lead at the 14:26 mark. IUPUI's offense was not any more efficient but  captured a 9-8 advantage with 11:42 remaining in the first half.

A nifty backdoor pass from Kontautaite to Kelly would give the lead back to Western, 10-9.

Nelson converted a three-point play and Dawn Luster followed with a triple to extend IUPUI's lead to 20-15 with 7:07 on the clock.

Kelly started a fast break with a steal and finished it with an easy layup to cut the deficit to just one, 22-21, with 4:54 left before halftime. However, a 12-2 run from the visitors would give IUPUI a 34-23 lead and force Head Coach JD Gravina to call a timeout and regroup.

At the midway point, Western trailed 34-25 with Kelly pacing the attack with 10 points. IUPUI used nine points off the bench and seven first-half free throws to power its advantage. Markovic led the Jaguars with 10 points and eight rebounds. The Jags won the battle on the glass 27-14 during the first 20 minutes.

IUPUI continued to control nearly every aspect of the game as it opened the first half with two quick baskets to stretch the lead to 38-27 at the 17:35 mark.

Kontautaite would take the comeback attempt into her own hands with a three-pointer and a three-point play to bring the score to 42-33 in favor of IUPUI. She followed with a drive to the rim and finished to give her eight straight points. At the 15:02 mark IUPUI held onto a 42-35 lead.

A steal and layup from Phillips at the 12-minute mark cut the lead to 46-40. Kontautaite followed with another fastbreak layup to bring Western within four, 46-42 with 11:32 left in the game.

Phillips found enough room for another layup to bring Western within three, 49-46, with 7:30 on the clock. Jackie Rieger kept the game in reach with a impressive-looking spin move in the lane and finish to make it 53-50 with six minutes left.

Kelly tied the game at 55-55 with a triple from the wing at the 3:15 mark. A Phillips three-pointer gave the Leatherneck their first lead since the 11:38 mark in the first half, 58-57, with 1:30 left in regulation.

Emily Phillips committed a foul on her sister and sent Karis to the line where she missed the front end of a one-and-one giving IUPUI possession. The Jags took advantage and drilled a three-pointer to take the lead 60-58 with 32.3 seconds on the clock.

Kontautaite tied the game at 60-60 with two clutch free throws. The Jaguars held for the final shot of regulation but were unable to convert and Western would play its second overtime game of the season.

The Jags jumped out to a 64-60 lead in the extra frame with 3:16 remaining. Webb would knock down back-to-back jumpers to keep Western close, 66-64 with just over a minute remaining in the first overtime period.

The Leathernecks had an opportunity to tie the game but Rieger would miss a heavily contested layup to give the ball back to IUPUI with 17.9 seconds on the clock. A foul on IUPUI on the inbound would give the Purple & Gold a second chance to tie the ballgame.

Kontautaite had a look from behind the arc but it would bounce off the front iron and IUPUI would sink two free throws to secure the 68-64 victory.

Western shot 38.7 percent from the field and made just five triples. IUPUI also shot 38.7 percent and converted just two three-pointers but the rebounding edge would prove to the deciding factor as IUPUI outrebounded Western 55-32.

The January section of the schedule will conclude with a Monday game at Nebraska Omaha at 7 p.m. The Mavericks were victorious earlier this season with a 65-58 win in Macomb. Webb led all scorers with 22 points on that Dec. 20 contest. Nebraska Omaha is transitioning into the Summit League and are 12-9.

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