Women’s basketball enters postseason play
Into the Postseason
By Staci Reafsnyder | Sports Editor
The University of Indianapolis women’s basketball team earned a spot in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament when they defeated Kentucky Wesleyan College on Feb. 19. As of Feb. 28, the Greyhounds record stood at (22-8, and 11-7) going into conference play.
“I think this season has gone far. Not exactly where we thought we’d be, but we’re turning the corner now right before tourney time,” said sophomore Samantha Meissel.
In the last game of the regular season, the Greyhounds face conference foe the University of Wisconsin-Parkside at Nicoson Hall Feb. 28.
At the end of the first quarter, the ‘Hounds were in the lead 40-31. They would keep that lead through-out the second half, defeating Wisconsin-Parkside 77-70.
UIndy added another win to their record, defeating St. Joseph’s College 69-54 on Feb. 26.
Meissel was the top player of the night, contributing 22 points and reached a career-high of 12 rebounds against the Pumas.
“We’ve been saying for a while now [that] it’s time to turn the corner and everyone start going in the same direction which is getting on board with the coaching staff and being coachable, disciplined and following their game play,” said senior Isabell Rhenwrick.
The Greyhounds traveled to Louisville, Ky., to take on the Bellarmine University Knights in a GLVC match on Feb. 21.
Sophomore Samantha Meissel put the ‘Hounds on the score board early in the game, but Bellarmine would take a six-point lead at the end of the first half. UIndy would struggle in the second half to regain the lead, losing 87-76 to the Knights.
“We’ve had some rough games, but they have only made us want to win even more,” Meissel said. “We want to show and or prove to people that we are serious and UIndy should start getting the credit we deserve.”
On Feb. 19, the ‘Hounds defeated Kentucky Wesleyan 77-68, earning a spot in the GLVC Tournament. Meissel was the top scorer of the night, contributing 26 points to the Greyhound win.
“The win against Kentucky Wesleyan clenched our berth in the conference tournament,” Rhenwrick said. “We’re fighting right now to get a top eight ranking in the regional polls.”
Meissel said that going into the game against KWC she had no doubts about the game, she knew they were going to win.
According to Rhenwrick, practices have been more focused on rebounding and zone defense to change-up and throw off teams that they will play in the near future.
“We have a very intense coaching staff,” Rhenwrick said. “They are all good teachers [and] they know how to teach the game.”
Meissel said that going into the GLVC Tournament, the team doesn’t just want to win, but to prove something to the conference and the surrounding teams.
“We don’t want to go in and just win the games, we want to hold them under certain points, out-rebound them by so many, commit fewer turnovers, take charges and just all around out-hustle them,” Meissel said. “We know [that] if we do this we’ll go a lot farther than anyone can imagine.”
