Box score

ST. LOUIS, Mo.- Up just five with slightly over two minutes to play, the third-ranked UIndy women's basketball team (13-0, 4-0 GLVC) held off a hot-shooting Maryville squad in an 80-70 victory at Moloney Arena Thursday night.  The home Saints shot better than 60% from the field, but the Greyhounds forced 26 turnovers on the way to their 13th win in as many games.

Despite the Saint's shooting success, UIndy led nearly the entire game.  Maryville's .604 percentage from the floor was easily a season high by an Indianapolis opponent, but the Hounds shot a solid percentage themselves, connecting on an even 50% of their attempts.

Up by three nine minutes in, the Greyhounds used a 14-3 run to take control, capped by a lay-up and a three from senior Jessica Canary.  With just two-and-a-half minutes left in the half and the Hounds still up double digits, Maryville ran off eight unanswered to trim the lead to five, but junior Hillary Wenning drained a triple for the final bucket of the half, curbing the Saints' momentum.

The scoreboard read 39-31 Greyhounds at the break, with both teams hitting the majority of their field goal attempts.  Canary led all players with 11 first-half points.

The Greyhounds continued to keep their hosts at arm's length through much of the second half, but Maryville kept hanging around.  After junior Samantha Meissel delivered her third of four 3-pointers on the night to give UIndy a 60-48 advantage at the 12:10 mark, the Saints slowly but surely cut into the deficit.

With 4:39 to go, a lay-up from Indianapolis-native Courtney Pederson trimmed the margin to four, but that was as close as the Saints would get.  Maryville got within five on two subsequent occasions and both times the Hounds answered with a bucket and later held the Saint scoreless for the final 1:45 to ensure the win.

Already the GLVC's leading scorer, Meissel poured in 20 points in the second half to finish with a game-high 30 in just 22 minutes of play.  The all-region forward shot 11-for-17 from the floor, including hitting all four 3-point attempts, while also adding seven rebounds.

Canary also shot well, sinking seven of 12 shots from the floor on the way to 22 points.  Canary and fellow-senior Katie Dewey each had five assists, with Dewey also amassing six boards and two steals.

UIndy won't have to travel far for its next game, as the Hounds will trek just 20 miles to the University of Missouri-St. Louis for a conference matinee Saturday.  Tip time from the Mark Twain Building is scheduled for 2 p.m. CST.


Notes:  Tonight's game continued as scheduled though Maryville University was closed today due to snow accumulation…the Hounds have led or have been tied with its opponent for all but 17 seconds of the last 151:56 of play…UIndy's win extends its program record for wins to start a season to 13.