INDIANAPOLIS – The Greyhounds closed out 2014 with a strong 76-64 win over visiting Lincoln Memorial Saturday in Nicoson Hall.

Coming off season lows in shooting percentage and scoring against 12th-ranked Rollins, the Greyhounds (4-5) came out and scorched the visiting Railsplitters (7-4). In the first half alone UIndy surpassed Tuesday's total (42) with 47 points.

UIndy jumped out to a quick 13-1 lead to start the game, holding Lincoln Memorial without a made field goal until the 13-minute mark. By the second media break the Greyhounds had a 28-13 lead.

Freshman Sarah Costello made her presence known early and often, passing her previous season high of 11 points with 17 on 5-for-6 shooting in the opening period.

Senior Kelly Walter sank all four of her three-pointers in the opening half, leading to 15 points in 19 minutes.

UIndy took a solid 47-29 margin into the break, shooting an even 50-percent (12 of 24) from the floor, including 7-for-12 from deep.

The first half featured 29 combined personal fouls, leading to plenty of free throws form both sides. The Hounds went 16-for-18 compared to LMU's 17-for-22.

LMU put up a stingy second-half effort to hang around, but the Hounds' margin was too much for the visitors to overcome.

Kiara Rawls scored all 24 of her points in the second half, and helped the Railsplitters get within 10 just under the 2:00 mark at 70-60. But a three-pointer from Carly Lythjohan and a subsequent steal from Costello on the defensive end all but ended LMU's threat.

Walter led UIndy with 23 points – her fourth 20-point game of the season – knocking down five triples to go along with three steals.

Costello stuffed the stat sheet with 19 points, five assists, two steals, two boards and a block. Lythjohan paced the Hounds with six rebounds, adding nine points and three blocks.

Freshman Tina Negoescu played 10 minutes, contributing six points, four rebounds and three blocks. Sophomore Nicole Anderson finished the game with eight points, five rebounds and three assists. Ashley Montanez and Kylie Ballard each pulled in four boards.

UIndy shot 46-percent (22-48) from the floor and a season-best 47-percent (9-19) from long range. After holding LMU to just 29-percent in the opening half the Hounds finished with a 38-percent field goal defense.
 
The Crimson and Grey also guarded the perimeter for a full 40 minutes, forcing LMU to go 0-for-3 from three-point range even as the Railsplitters attempted a double-digit comeback.

UIndy is off until it plays host to 16th-ranked Drury Jan. 2 and Missouri S&T Jan. 4.

Notes: In a game that featured 54 personal fouls – 27 apiece – the two teams combined to shoot 72 free throws ... entering the game LMU had a +21.4 rebounding margin and averaged 52.4 boards per game, but outrebounded UIndy by just one with a season-low 33.