LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The IU Southeast women's basketball team secured their first victory of the season on Tuesday, an 82-62 victory over Simmons College. This victory marked the first win for Derek Sims as head coach of the women's program. 
 
Simmons jumped out to a 7-3 lead early in the first quarter. With Simmons ahead 9-5, a 5-0 run by IU Southeast gave the Grenadiers a 10-9 lead.
 
Simmons answered with a 6-0 run to swing the lead back in their favor at 15-10. Another 5-0 run by IU Southeast tied the game at 15-15. Simmons closed the quarter on a 6-2 run to lead 21-17 headed into the second quarter.
 
After a free throw made it 22-17, yet another 5-0 run by IU Southeast tied the game at 22-22. Simmons answered with seven straight points to take their largest lead at 29-22. A three by Jesse Ledgerwood cut the lead to four at 29-25.
 
Simmons extended their lead back to six at 33-27, but five straight points by IU Southeast made it 33-32. Back-to-back threes by Simmons extended their lead to 39-32. IU Southeast closed the half on a 6-2 run, but it was Simmons who led 41-38 at the break.
 
IU Southeast opened the third quarter with 14 straight points to swing the lead in their favor at 52-41. Simmons did not hit their first basket of the third quarter until the 3:52 mark. IU Southeast extended their lead to as many as 14 in the third and led 57-46 going into the fourth quarter.
 
The Grenadiers opened the fourth with five straight points to take a 62-46 advantage. After Simmons cut the lead to 62-51, IU Southeast responded with a 9-0 run to take a 71-51 edge. IU Southeast extended their lead to 23 at 76-53 with 5:12 remaining. IU Southeast would go on to win 82-62.
 
"I'm extremely proud of these girls," IU Southeast interim head coach Derek Sims said. "It was awesome seeing them celebrate each other. They've been working very hard to get better and it showed tonight. We couldn't guard without fouling in the first half and we were not playing smart. I challenged them at halftime, and they stepped up. Now we need to build off this success, continue to get better and continue working. We still haven't put two halves together. We'll need to against IU Kokomo Saturday."
 
Jesse Ledgerwood led IU Southeast with 23 points and added five rebounds and four assists. Makenna Wilson had 19 points and eight rebounds. Linzie Wernert had 11 points and four assists, and Taylor Treat added eight points and four rebounds.Lexi Starr had six points and a team-high nine rebounds. Karly Sweeney also had four assists.
 
IU Southeast opens conference play in their next contest as they play host to IU Kokomo.