Box score

INDIANAPOLIS- The seventh-ranked UIndy women's basketball team endured its first loss of the season Saturday, falling 83-64 to No. 23 Tusculum College at the UIndy Thanksgiving Classic.  The visiting Pioneers committed just five turnovers on the way to their second straight win over a GLVC school.

UIndy sophomore Kristin Turner scored each of the Greyhounds' first four points, staking the home to an early 4-0 lead.

Later with the Hounds up 12-9, Tusculum went on an 11-0 run to seize control.  The Pioneer lead got as high as 12 late in the half, as back-to-back threes from Kendal Baxter in the final minute upped the cushion to 39-27 at the break.

The Pioneers nearly escaped the first half with zero turnovers, with their only miscue coming with 19 ticks on the clock.  Meanwhile, UIndy's 11 first-half turnovers led to 18 points for the visitors.

After intermission, UIndy looked to feed the post, but starting forwards Samantha Meissel (pictured) and Katie Lyons both picked up their third foul within the first three minutes of the second half.

Nevertheless, Indianapolis slowed clawed its way back.  After the TC lead touched 18 at the 16:32 mark, the Greyhounds whittled it to 10 midway through the half.

The Hounds were able to get their bigs the ball, as Meissel completed a three-point play, while Lyons and Diana Jovanovic also managed to get open layups.

With 10:40 to go, Turner connected on a pair of free throws to make it 56-46 Pioneers, but Tusculum would not let it get closer, scoring nine of the next 11 points to regain the momentum.

Led by Meissel's 15 second-half points, UIndy's offense rebooted and put up points down the stretch.  However, the Hounds struggled to get stop on the defensive end, exacerbated by timely offensive rebounding by the Pioneers.

The final margin of 19 marked the largest defeated by Indianapolis since a 73-47 loss to Quincy in January of 2009.

Despite battling foul trouble, Meissel finished with a game-high 26 points while adding eight rebounds.  Lyons scored 14 points and Turner 11.

Led by D-II Preseason Player of the Year Jasmine Gunn, Tusculum (2-3) picked up a 93-82 win over Lewis at the UIndy Thanksgiving Classic yesterday.  Gunn finished with 23 points versus the Greyhounds, followed by 21 from Staci Hicks.

UIndy opens conference play next Saturday, Dec. 4,  with a match-up at GLVC East rival Northern Kentucky.  Tip time from the Bank of Kentucky Center is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. EST.