INDIANAPOLIS – Visiting Missouri-St. Louis used a strong opening half and withstood a late comeback attempt from the UIndy Greyhounds to earn a 71-58 victory Thursday night in Nicoson Hall.

The Greyhounds (9-11, 6-6 GLVC) nearly overcame a slow opening period by scoring 39 points in the second half, shooting over 50 percent (14-27). UMSL (11-9, 7-5) used a heavy dose of free throws to help secure the victory, sinking 22 in the second half alone.

UIndy got off to a costly slow start, going just 1-for-10 to open the game, not hitting a field goal until 12:24 remaining in the first half.

"We honestly didn't show up in the first half," Head Coach Constantin Popa lamented following the loss. "We played so passive, and it was pretty shocking that nobody wanted to take the lead offensively in that first half."

The visiting Tritons, meanwhile, went 8-for-10 out of the gate, jumping out to a 20-12 lead by the second media break.

The Greyhounds finished the opening period with 19 points – the lowest at the half this season – shooting 28 percent (7-25). UMSL shot 13-of-24 (54 percent) from the floor, going into the half up 33-19.

Out of the break the Greyhounds dialed up the defensive pressure, cutting the deficit down to 37-30  just minutes into the half after a steal led to a Kelly Walter three-pointer. On multiple occasions the Greyhounds were able to trim the Triton lead to single digits, but each time the visitors responded.

Princess German was a large part of the Greyhounds' second-half offensive surge, scoring 21 of her game-high 25 points in the period. She finished 9-for-18 from the floor and added five rebounds, three steals and an assist.

No other Hounds finished in double figures, but freshmen Ashley Montanez and Devin Ferguson scored seven points apiece and Walter and Nicole Anderson chipped in six each. Montanez also had four rebounds, a block and a steal; Anderson added six boards, two assists and a steal.

UIndy committed 23 personal fouls, leading to UMSL's 25-for-33 performance at the charity stripe. The Hounds finished over 40 percent from the floor (21-52), but never managed to regain control after the cold first half.

"I can set up all kinds of plays on offense, but if you don't have that aggressiveness and don't look to score, or aren't willing to take shots when you have the opportunity, then you'll obviously end up with nineteen points on a good day," Popa told WICR.

"I always emphasize we have to get to the free throw line. We did a better job of that the second half, but then again it's not enough to go twenty minutes. We were just really passive and were playing a pretty good team, and UMSL took advantage of that."

UIndy has a chance to snap its three-game skid Saturday at 1 p.m. ET against the Maryville Saints.