INDIANAPOLIS – The UIndy women's basketball team scored eight points in the final minute to seal an 85-79 victory over the feisty McKendree Bearcats Thursday night in Nicoson Hall.

Clinging to a 77-76 lead with just under one minute on the clock, the Greyhounds (8-8, 5-3 GLVC) sprinted to the finish line with an 8-3 run that included four points from Nicole Anderson and fastbreak layups from Kelly Walter and Princess German.

Walter finished with 31 points, tying her career high set earlier this season at Saint Joseph's. She did most of her damage from long range, where she netted a career-best seven threes - one short of tying the UIndy single-game record.

Anderson and freshman Sarah Costello each had exceptional all-around performances. Anderson totaled 17 points, seven rebounds, two blocks, one steal and one assist. Costello did a little bit of everything for Head Coach Constantin Popa, turning in one of the best games of her young career with 17 points, four steals, three rebounds, three assists, two blocks and just one turnover.

"That's why she's here, we know what Sarah can do," Popa said following the victory. "She's still trying to figure things out obviously as a freshman, but she had a great game, and she can do a lot of things for us on the court."

The Greyhounds shot out at a blistering pace, going 5-for-5 from the floor with each starter contributing one bucket. UIndy sank nine of its first 11 shots, and went 6-for-6 to open the game from long range.

Before long, UIndy led 20-4, but the visiting Bearcats (2-14, 1-7 GLVC) turned the tide and slowly crept back into the game.

After weathering the Greyhounds' hot start, the Bearcats used a remarkable run to take control of the contest. After a 1-for-7 start from the field, McKendree – which entered ranked 14th in the conference in field goal percentage – went 17-for-25 (68 percent) to fuel a lengthy 33-10 run across the final 10 minutes.

McKendree went 6-for-9 from three-point range, and were led by Caty Ponce's 16 points and Jameeka Bouie's 13 as it took a 47-40 lead into the half.

The last 20 minutes offered thrilling action between the hosts and their counterparts.

Five minutes into the period Walter drained her fifth triple of the night and 172nd of her career, tying the game at 53-53 and moving her into third on UIndy's all-time career three-point list. On the ensuing McKendree possession Costello stole the ball and drove in for a breakaway layup.

The lead was brief for the Greyhounds, as it would be for both sides during a second half that had six ties and nine lead changes.

Eventually UIndy was able to put a run together, and it came at the most opportune moment possible.

"They pulled together in the last couple of minutes, and we just played and played and played and we never gave up," Popa said about his squad's last-minute push. "It wasn't nice and it wasn't pretty, but it was a win. I'll take the win any time."

A big momentum builder down the stretch was a four-point play from Walter. Down 72-69 with less than five minutes left, Walter drained a triple while being fouled and converted the free throw to complete the rare feat.

"Kelly came up huge for us," Popa noted. "That and-one toward the end is Kelly at her best. She knows her role and as a team we were able to find her."

Fighting for their third win of the season, the Bearcats pulled in 15 offensive rebounds – including five on one possession – resulting in 15 second chance points. McKendree shot just 38 percent in the second period, however, and only 1-of-9 from long range.

UIndy tallied a season-best 23 fastbreak points, and also finished with a season-high 58 percent shooting mark.

German recorded 16 points, two rebounds and an assist. Carly Lythjohan hauled in seven boards and dished a career-high seven assists.

The Greyhounds return to action Saturday against Illinois Springfield. Tip is set for 1 p.m. ET in Nicoson Hall.