Box score

INDIANAPOLIS- The third-ranked UIndy women's basketball team extended its season-opening winning streak to 16 with a 78-59 win over Lewis at Nicoson Hall Saturday.  The Greyhounds, who are one victory shy of tying the program record for consecutive wins, shot over 66 percent in the second half to hold off the visiting Flyers.  Junior Samantha Meissel led all scorers with 23 points, while sophomore Hillary Wenning chipped in 13 points off the bench.

Meissel got things rolling just 11 seconds in with a 3-pointer from the top of the key.  She then completed a conventional three-point play seconds later.  The 6-2 forward went on to score the Greyhounds' first eight points, helping the home team to an early 10-5 lead.

The Hounds (16-0, 7-0 GLVC) never got that big first-half run they have managed so many times this season.  Nevertheless, UIndy stayed in front the entire half and led by as much as 12.

With the score 38-26, LU freshman Sam Rinehart sank a triple in the waning seconds to cut the UIndy lead to nine at the break.  The Hounds forced eight turnovers in the first twenty minutes, but the Flyers kept the deficit manageable with an even 50-percent field goal percentage.  Meissel led all scorers with 14 points at intermission.

Normally a man-to-man team, Indianapolis gave the Flyers the occasional zone look Saturday, especially in the second half.  UIndy went with a 2-3 zone to minimize the Flyers' penetration while forcing them to knock down jumpers.  The move played off as the Hounds held to guests to just 40 percent shooting from the floor in the final half, including a mere 2-for-14 from behind the arc.

Katie Lyons found Heather Gonser on a back-door cut to up the lead to 19 and force a Lewis timeout with 6:35 on the clock.  The Hounds continued to increase their lead as Hillary Wenning drained her third 3-pointer of the second half to cap a 14-0 UIndy run.

A late press helped the Flyers (9-8, 5-3) to one last spurt, as the visitors managed a 10-3 run to cut it to 15, but that would be as close as they would get, as the Hounds went on to the 19-point win.

Meissel added a career-high-tying three blocks to her game-high point total.  Wenning shot 3-for-4 from long range and scored 11 of her 13 points in the second half, Katie Dewey amassed 12 points and five assists, and Cayla Keegan garnered four steals.

UIndy travels to Rolla, Mo. to face Missouri S&T Monday, Jan. 18.  Tip time is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST.


Note:  The program record for consecutive wins came in the 2002-03 season when the Greyhounds ran off 17 straight.