The Online Reflector

The University of Indianapolis women’s basketball team defeated Cedarville University (6-2) 83-52 on Dec. 10.  Junior guard Kristin Turner matched her career high 19 points as the Greyhounds shot 57 percent from the floor.

UIndy defensively limited the Yellow Jackets’ transition game. Cedarville averaged 80 points per game prior to playing in Indianapolis. However, the Greyhounds held CU’s shooting game to 32 percent.

At the start of the game, UIndy held  CU to two points for the first six minutes of the game. With 10:32 minutes left in the first half, a good 3-pointer by sophomore guard Katy McIntosh built UIndy’s lead to 21-9.

At the 1:50 minute mark, a 3-pointer by junior forward Nickole Gonser gave UIndy its largest lead of the first half with a score of 40-25.  The Greyhounds led 41-27 at the half.

CU scored the first basket of the second half, cutting the Greyhounds’ lead to 12. However, a 3-pointer by senior guard Megan Gardner put UIndy back on top by 15 points.

With that, the Greyhounds took off on a 8-0 run and continued to build their lead over the Yellow Jackets.

With 6:02 left in the game, junior forward Sydney Weinert converted on a 3-point play after being fouled while going in for a layup. This continued the Greyhounds lead to 76-48.

Both teams remained scoreless for the next three minutes of the game a good free throw by freshman guard Kelly Walter broke the deadlock.

The Greyhounds continued to build the lead as they put the Yellow Jackets down by 33 late in the second half. UIndy finished the game 31 points on top of CU. UIndy shot for 72 percent from the two-point range .

The Greyhounds secured two conference victories after beating Northern Kentucky University (4-2, 1-1 GLVC) 55-44 on Dec. 3, and Bellarmine University 71-59 on Dec.1. After losing two games in Pennsylvania at the start of the season, the Greyhounds have won five games in a row in Indianapolis.

Head Coach Constantin Popa said that learning how to play together has led to the team’s success.

“We have finally started playing together. They have learned what each other’s role is and have stayed within their role,” Popa said.

The transition between games was short for the Greyhounds as they took on NKU just two days after beating Bellarmine. The match-ups between the two teams in the past have been low scoring games due to the tough defense and slow game pace of NKU. The Greyhounds had confidence going into the game because NKU was coming off of a triple overtime win against Saint Joseph College on Dec. 1. Gardner said that would play to their advantage.

“NKU has always been one of our biggest rivals. They are coming in exhausted and if we can run our offense to tire them out, we’ll come out on top,” she said.

It was a close game against NKU. The Greyhounds had one of their lowest scoring games so far in the regular season with 55 points. Popa wanted the Greyhounds to increase the tempo with more fast breaks after rebounds to play to the weakness of NKU.

“They’re big and strong and maybe not as fast. They want to walk the ball up,” Popa said. “We should be able to take advantage of that by pushing the ball and utilize our fast breaks.”

The Greyhounds secured the victory with a 12-4 run late in the game. Walter said she enjoyed running the floor in transition from defense to offense.

“I love when we push the floor.” Walter said. “It wears other teams out.”

The first half of the game saw six score ties and eight lead changes as both teams finished out the first half with 24 points.

The second half of the game saw much of the same action until the Greyhounds  built a 49-37 lead with a 12-4 run over NKU.

The Bellarmine Knights visited Indianapolis on Dec. 1 as an undefeated team.

Bellarmine gave the Greyhounds trouble in the first half, going on big scoring runs including a 13-4 run, but the Knights trailed UIndy 41-38 at the close of the first half.

The Knights scored the first basket of the second half but Gardner hit three straight 3-pointers to build the lead back to eight. UIndy finished the game with an 8-0 run that secured the win.

The Greyhounds’ defense changed the dynamic of the game, forcing a season-high 23 turnovers.  Gonser had five steals.

The team has continued to show its offensive ability, with several players consistently scoring in double figures.

Gonser led all Greyhound scorers with 15 points, and Gardner came off the bench knocking down four 3-pointers for 12 points.

“We have a bunch of people who can score,” Popa said. “Scoring is not a problem. Even if someone is struggling, someone else is going to pick up the slack.”

The scoring efforts do not solely come from the starters. The Greyhounds have seen big scoring games from newcomers such as Walter and Weinert. Walter said that it has been a big transition since the beginning of the season.

“I had a hard time trying to adjust but the girls have helped me find my role and learn to play with everyone,” Walter said.

Walter has become a player who comes off the bench for UIndy to score when the team is slow. She has scored in double figures in several games.

“He [Popa] has me coming off the bench, and I like that role a lot, because I can help pick people up if things aren’t going so well,” she said.

Gardner, who was a key player on the Greyhounds’ bench last year, believes that bringing the energy off of the bench is important.

“Everyone needs to be ready to play.  The girls off the bench really bring defensive intensity, which is one of the best things you can do,” she said.

The Greyhounds will play the next four games on the road starting with the University of Cincinnati on Dec. 19.