WALTHAM, Mass. – A slow start plagued the University of Indianapolis women's basketball team on Saturday afternoon, as the Greyhounds fell behind 16-0 to start the game on their way to an 80-58 loss to No. 23 Bentley University.
 
UIndy (1-7) got a game-high 17 points from Nicole Anderson while Sarah Costello chipped in with a season-high 15 for the Greyhounds. The Falcons (5-1) had four players reach double-figures and got points from 12 different players in the game. Bentley's bench outscored the Greyhound bench 41-6 on the day, playing a big part in the win.
 
The Greyhounds struggled to not only knock down shots, but hang on to the ball to open the game. The Hounds started 0-for-5 from the floor and committed six turnovers before a layup from Anderson got UIndy on the board and made it a 16-2 game with 2:10 to play in the first quarter.
 
Bentley's lead would hit the 20-point mark early in the second quarter as the Falcons connected on 46.9 percent (15-for-32) of their field goals and 50 percent (7-for-14) of their three-pointers in the first half alone. Bentley also held the advantage in the rebounding battle (22-10) and the turnover battle (13-9) at the half.
 
The Greyhounds had much better luck shooting the ball in the second half, connecting on 53.6 percent (15-for-28) of their tries and 36.4 percent (4-for-11) of their threes on their way to outscoring the Falcons 40-38 over the final 20 minutes.
 
Back-to-back buckets from Princess German to open the third quarter jump started a 15-4 UIndy run that chopped the Falcon lead down to 46-33 with 6:29 left in the third. But that proved to be as close as the Greyhounds would come to closing the gap as Bentley knocked down 60 percent (12-for-20) of their shots in the second half. The Falcons would extend their lead to as many as 27 points before the final horn sounded.
 
The Greyhounds finished the day connecting on 43.1 percent (22-for-51) of their field goals while shooting 32 percent (8-for-25) from long range and 60 percent (6-for-10) at the line. At the other end, the Falcons were efficient all day, shooting 51.9 percent (27-for-52) from the floor, 60 percent (12-for-20) from deep and 82.4 percent (14-for-17) from the charity stripe.
 
Bentley dominated the glass all day, pulling down 42 boards while limiting the Greyhounds to a season-low 14 rebounds. UIndy won the turnover battle, forcing 25 giveaways while committing 19. Points off turnovers were 23-22 in favor of the Falcons while each team finished with 24 points in the paint.
 
After returning from Massachusetts, the Greyhounds will return home to prepare for their GLVC opener against Wisconsin-Parkside on Thursday (Dec. 3). Tip-off from Nicoson Hall is set for 5:30 p.m.