Indianapolis relies on bench players to score
The University of Indianapolis women’s basketball defeated Southern Indiana (7-14, 1-12 GLVC) 72-53 on Feb. 4.
UIndy scored the first two points just nine seconds into the game. The Greyhounds would not let the Screaming Eagles take the lead the entire first half.
Just before half time, UIndy went on a 6-0 run started by a good layup from sophomore forward/center Eliza Wortman. In the second half, the Greyhounds continued to build their lead. With just over 14 minutes left on the game clock, junior guard Kristin Turner scored a 3-pointer and started an 8-0 run.
Turner scored a career-high 25 points as the Greyhounds shot 50 percent from the floor.
The Greyhounds overcame a 13 point deficit in the second half to defeat Kentucky Wesleyan 76-72 on Feb. 2.
Sophomore guards Megan Birchmeier and Katy McIntosh both scored from the free-throw line in the final seconds to secure the win for the Greyhounds.
The Greyhounds lost Saturday, Jan. 29, to the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, 73-70. The Greyhounds were led by Turner with 24 points. Turner has been given the green light as the go-ahead scorer for the Greyhounds. Head Coach Constantin Popa said it took Turner a while to get comfortable with her role.
“I had a good idea what she [Turner] could do if I gave her the freedom,” Popa said. “Her role is to score, and it was just a matter of time until she got comfortable in that role.”
Turner is averaging 18.9 points per game and set a career-high in points for three consecutive games—Ferris State, Illinois-Springfield and Quincy.
“Popa talked to me and told me to be confident and look for my shot,” Turner said. “I’m still getting used to it, but I’m trying to figure it all out.”
Junior forward Sydney Weinert set the school’s single-season record for blocked shots. The loss to the Rangers tied the Greyhounds with the Rangers, as well as Northern Kentucky, for first-place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division.
The Greyhounds took on Lewis University on Jan. 19. The Flyers defeated the Greyhounds in the GLVC Tournament finals last season.
UIndy won the game by 23 points and a final score 82-59. Turner led all scorers with 25 points. The Greyhounds saw several other players score in double figures, including McIntosh, Weinert and junior forward Nickole Gonser.
“I feel like we have the right coaches and the right players,” Turner said. “We have it all. We just have to finish.”
Since the beginning of the new year, the team has played two games every week. At one point, they played five games in ten days. Popa said that the schedule can take a physical and mental toll.
“It’s tough. It’s game after game,” he said. “You don’t have much time to work on a lot of things.”
Popa emphasized to his team that they need not only to understand the system but understand their role. Sophomore forward Chas Lecher said she had to buy in to what Popa wanted from her.
“I did not know what he [Popa] wanted me to do,” she said. “Once I realized I am needed in certain areas, I started to focus on defense and rebounding.”
Lecher, in her second year, has added some valuable minutes coming off the bench.
“When I come in [off the bench], I feel I need to keep the tempo up and get defensive stops,” she said. “I take care of the stuff that the team needs me to do.”
Popa wants to make sure that the Greyhounds know their opponents and adequately prepare for them.
“They’re all good teams from now on. It doesn’t matter what happened in the past,” Popa said. “We go one game at a time, and we just have to find ways to get it done. That’s our motto, ‘Whatever it takes.’”
The Greyhounds continue conference play on the road with a rematch against Northern Kentucky University on Feb. 9.
