Box Score

OWENSBORO, Ky.- The UIndy women's basketball team (13-4, 7-2 GLVC) dropped its first decision in five games Thursday afternoon in a 69-62 final at Kentucky Wesleyan.  The loss marked just the second for the Greyhounds in conference play, as the team still owns a one-game edge in the GLVC East Division standings.

“It was a tough loss,” said Head Coach Constantin Popa. “I thought we controlled the game for the most part but we made some mental mistakes and unfortunately we paid for it. That's what happens when you play better teams.  You have to stay focused and play for 40 minutes.  You have to have the same concentration the entire game.”

As a team, the Hounds notched season lows in both free throw percentage and steals.  UIndy went 12-for-21 from the line (.571) and managed just four takeaways.

“We have to make our free throws,” stressed Popa. “That's (a lack of) concentration.  That's the one thing that went against us big time today. The timing on the misses was pretty bad too.  You hit a couple more of those at the right time, and who knows.

“We had a chance to put them away a couple times and we just didn't quite concentrate on our free throws and we missed a couple lay-ups at the worst possible times.  We need to learn how to put teams away when we have the chance.  We definitely had our chances to get the win, but we had a couple mental mistakes and gave it back to them.”

The game featured 17 lead changes and nine ties.  Eleven of the lead changes came in the first half alone, as neither team led by more than four points in the first 20 minutes.

Up 44-42 midway through the second, the Hounds scored six unanswered to build a game-high eight-point advantage.  The surge featured a 3-pointer from Kristin Turner, who had four long balls on the day.

The home Panthers (12-5, 6-2) fought back to knot it at 53 apiece at the five-minute mark.

Later, a pair of free throws from Katy McIntosh made it 59-59 with 2:23 left to go, but KWC senior Kristen Rowe, who finished with a team-high 15 points, answered with a jumper to regain the edge for the Panthers.

UIndy would not see the lead again, as the Hounds were held to just one field goal and three points in the final two minutes of action.

Added Popa: “We played well for the most part. We executed the plan for the most part, but a couple times we lost focus and we paid for it.  It's unfortunate but hopefully we'll learn from this experience.

“Obviously, it's just one game.  We still have a long way to go, but we have to stay focused and stay on task so we can take care of business our next game.”

Turner, who led all players with 26 points, reached the 20-point plateau for the seventh time in the last eight games.  She also recorded a career-high eight rebounds while adding three assists.

Sydney Weinert amassed nine points, eight boards and two blocks; Megan Gardner dropped a team-best four dimes and Chas Lecher contributed six points and three rebounds off the bench.

Staying in divisional play, the Hounds head to Lewis Thursday night for a match-up with the Flyers at 6:30 pm.