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LOUISVILLE, Ky.-  The UIndy women's basketball team (16-7, 10-5 GLVC) dropped back-to-back games for the first time in 2012 after enduring a 86-67 setback at Bellarmine Saturday evening.  The 19-point loss marked the Greyhounds' largest defeat since Jaunary of last year.

“We struggled on defense tonight,” noted UIndy Head Coach Constantin Popa. “Bellarmine had a good game plan on offense and they were able to take advantage of our mistakes on defense.  They capitalized on everything.”

Wisconsin-Parkside and Northern Kentucky didn't help matters, as UIndy's two chief rivals in the GLVC East race both picked up victories this afternoon.  As a result, UIndy was pushed back to third place in the division standings and fifth in the conference overall.

The Knights (12-11, 6-9) used a big run to take command midway through the first half, as the home team constructed a 27-8 rally over an eight-minute span to earn a 44-30 lead.  Bellarmine shot 10-of-15 from the floor while forcing four UIndy turnovers during the surge.

“We had a hard time stopping them in man and a hard time stopping them in zone,” admitted Popa.  “It was just one of those games that nothing really worked for us on defense and they played a really good game and they were just a better team tonight.”

Some extra-curricular activities late in the first half worked against the Knights, however, as two quick technicals – one on junior Betsy Goodin and one on the Knights' bench – afforded the Greyhounds some relief.  UIndy went on to score the half's final eight points and whittle the deficit to six by halftime.

As it is prone to do, the momentum shifted again out of the break, as UIndy managed just three points in the opening five-and-a-half minutes of the second half.  Sophomore Katy McIntosh coaxed a conventional three-point play on the Hounds' first possession of the period, but UIndy missed their next six field goals to again fall behind by double digits.

Meanwhile, the Knights connected on three 3-pointers early in the second to help extend the lead to 56-41.

Bellarmine continued to pull away, earning a sizeable 77-56 advantage with 6:53 to go, but UIndy responded with six straight points and looked primed for one final push.

It was not meant to be though, as a charging call went against a driving McIntosh to give the ball and the momentum back to the Knights.

Seconds later, McIntosh was called for the reach in, giving her five fouls on the night.  It marked the first disqualification of the year for the Austin, Ind., native, who fouled out at the 4:43 mark with 18 points.

Charging seemed to be a trendy call Saturday.  Add that to the Greyhounds' struggles at the foul line – 18 of 27 for 67 percent – and the Greyhounds' normally potent penetration was neutralized.

“I asked our players to find ways to get to the basket and they did,” Popa said.  “Unfortunately, we got called for quite a few charges, but we've got to respect the calls, obviously, and make the best of it.

Popa concluded: “We're in a tough streak right now with four of our last five games on the road, so we just have to find a way to bounce back.  There are still three games left and we need to finish strong.”

McIntosh added five rebounds and five assists to her team-high point total, while junior Kristin Turner and sophomore Eliza Wortman each chipped in 12 points.

Five Knights reached double figures, led by Kylie Brady's 21 points.  Goodin finished with 15 points and 10 boards.

Just three games remain on the Hounds' regular-season schedule, with the final two coming on the road.  First, UIndy hosts Lewis Thursday, Feb. 16 on Senior Night.  Tip time from Nicoson Hall is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.