Box Score

INDIANAPOLIS – A historically dismal first half plagued the 23rd-ranked UIndy Greyhounds in a 69-54 loss to visiting Southern Indiana Thursday night.

The Greyhounds (20-7, 11-5 GLVC) managed just 12 points in the opening 20 minutes, marking the lowest scoring first half for UIndy since records became available in 2001.

The recently-released NCAA Midwest Regional Rankings provided the backdrop for the rematch between the Greyhounds and Screaming Eagles, with UIndy placed third in the initial rankings, and USI (16-8, 10-6) coming in 10th.

The Screaming Eagles handed the Hounds their most lopsided loss of the season, 73-44, Jan. 18 in Evansville, and out of the gate seemed poised to match that margin.

USI drained eight of their 11 three-point attempts in the opening period, getting four from Stephanie Carpenter, who broke the school's career three-point record with her first triple.

On the other end, UIndy didn't get on the board until over three minutes into the contest. With 16:40 on the clock, Erin Murphy converted two free throws to make it 8-2.

The Greyhounds went on to miss their first 12 shots, and trailed 16-2 at the first media break. Over ten minutes into the game, Dajana Jovanovic hit a runner in the lane for the Hounds' first field goal. By then the Screaming Eagles' lead had swelled to 22-4.

At the break USI led 42-12 – topping their final margin from last game – and was holding the Greyhounds to just .179 from the field (5-28), including 0-for-12 from the three-point line.

The second half favored UIndy, but the large USI lead prevented the Hounds from getting any closer than the final 15 point edge. The Crimson and Grey went 17-for-38 (.447) and sank four three-pointers, outscoring the Screaming Eagles 42-27.

USI entered the game ranked fourth in the conference in scoring defense, allowing just 67 points per game, and second in field goal defense holding opponents to .385 shooting. It would improve both of those numbers, despite the elevated shooting in the second half from UIndy, keeping the Hounds to .333 from the floor (22-for-66) and 54 points.

It marks the first consecutive loss of the year for the Greyhounds, following last Saturday's 87-75 defeat to then-11th-ranked Quincy. It's also the first back-to-back loss to Southern Indiana since the 2001-02 season.

The Greyhounds did not have a double-figure scorer for the first time since a loss to Quincy on Jan. 16, 2003.

Rose Savela and Eliza Wortman tallied nine points each, and Erin Murphy chipped in eight. Kirsten Gliesmann, Shelby Wall and Jovanovic each finished with six points. Gliesmann and Savela led UIndy with eight boards each, and Murphy recorded five assists.

UIndy scored just six fast-break points, an unusually low number for Coach Constantin Popa's up-tempo style of play. After averaging nearly 22 free throws per game up this point in the season, the Greyhounds got to the line just eight times.

UIndy will have a chance to rebound Saturday for its Senior Night game against visiting Bellarmine in the final regular season home game. Tip-off is scheduled to 5:30 p.m. in Nicoson Hall.