Despite a game-high 23-point performance from senior guard Princess German and a double-double from junior forward Nicole Anderson the University of Indianapolis women’s basketball team was unable to produce a road win against Northwood University on Saturday, Nov. 21. The Timberwolves overcame the Hounds 69-60.
The Greyhounds held the score in the first period after gaining a 12-5 lead in the first three and a half minutes. But by the end of the period the Timberwolves closed the gap to two points, 18-16 Greyhounds. The minimal gap remained through the second period and was zeroed out before heading into the locker room all tied up 33-33 at halftime.
Sophomore guard Devin Ferguson looks for an open teammate while facing Wayne State on Nov. 19. The Greyhounds lost 93-71. Photo by Cassie Reverman
The third period was full of long runs for both teams. The first came from the Timberwolves with a 9-0 sprint out of the locker room. UIndy responded with an 11-2 outing that was fueled by Anderson. At the end of the third Northwood had the game at 50-47.
Northwood had the game in its hands from there, as the Greyhounds were unable to control the scoreboard only coming within three points in the last two minutes
On Nov. 19, UIndy faced the unbeaten Wayne State University Warriors, and fell 93-71.
In the opening period, the Warriors had a 7-2 run, but by the end of the first period, the Hounds were down by only two points, 17-15. UIndy was unable to maintain the small gap between the two teams. Right before halftime, Wayne State built a 15-6 run, moving the two-point gap to a 10-point gap making the score 43-33. The first half included 15 turnovers by the Greyhounds compared to the Warriors’ 7.
Head Women’s Basketball Coach Constantin Popa and his team are working on their objectives for the season.
“We’re still trying to figure out goals on the team and be a lot more aggressive on offense,” Popa said. “We’ve settled for too many outside shots,”
In the third period, Wayne State continued to maintain the lead, allowing its double-digit advantage to drop into the single digits only once. By the end of the third, the Warriors led 70-52. The fourth quarter did not prove any different for the Greyhounds. At the final buzzer, the scoreboard read 93-71 in favor of the Warriors.
At the close of the game, UIndy had three players who reached double digits in points. Senior guard Princess German had a game-high 26 points, with junior forward Nicole Anderson raking in 16 and Greyhound newcomer junior forward Nariman Jaber raking in 10.
In a previous game against Cedarville University on Nov. 17, Anderson and German scored 15 points each but, despite their efforts, could not pull out a win for the Hounds. UIndy fell by three, losing 47-44.
After a 0-4 start to the season, German said the team needs a win to build off of.
“We need a win. We need something to build on,” she said. “Nicole Anderson had a really good game on Tuesday [against Cedarville]. We all just need to build on that fire.”
Practice for the women’s basketball team began at the start of September with the team’s first exhibition game on Nov. 6. Three losses into the season, the Greyhounds hoped the game against Wayne State Warriors would see the turnaround for the team, but they have not hit the turnaround point yet.
The Greyhounds have just three new players, one of whom is a freshman. For this reason Popa said he expected more consistency from the team, but past injuries that led to two knee surgeries over the summer have plagued the team. Another factor has been consistent turnovers from the Greyhounds and lack of aggression on the court, Popa said.
“We are in the process of finding the identity of this team… and building team chemistry,” he said.
The Greyhounds will compete against the Ashland University Eagles tonight, with tip off at 6 p.m. in Nicoson Hall.
